The Peril of Smart Cities for Queer Rights in Africa

Africa’s rapid urbanisation presents both opportunities and challenges for the continent's economic and democratic development. The adoption of smart city technologies has been viewed as a way to foster economic growth and improving the quality of urban living standards in African nations. However, there are legitimate concerns that smart cities - especially the surveillance systems integral to their function - may infringe on civil liberties and political rights.

To mitigate the risks that smart cities pose to queer rights in Africa, the authors suggest several policy responses, including:

- The African Union and its member states must explicitly recognise queer communities as vulnerable groups needing protection in key policy documents, including the African Charter on Democracy and AU Agenda 2063.

- The AU – at both the regional and national levels – should establish legal and regulatory frameworks to safeguard individual privacy rights and ensure that smart city technologies serve the public good rather than become instruments of oppression.