Digital tools are widening inequality and undermining democracy in Africa, warned Juana Kweitel, Vice President and Chief Programme Officer at Luminate, during the Media and Development Conference in Abuja. She emphasized that the coming decade will be decisive in determining whether technology strengthens or erodes democratic life across the continent.
While digital tools have expanded civic participation and created new opportunities, they are increasingly being used to fuel division and deepen inequality. Kweitel noted that a handful of technology companies have become de facto gatekeepers of democracy, shaping public debate, defining truth, and influencing civic behavior. Their engagement‑driven algorithms prioritize virality over accuracy, posing profound risks to human rights, privacy and non‑discrimination. The concentration of power in a few private firms is also driving rising digital violence, particularly against women. Nearly 90 % of women who experience online abuse either withdraw from digital platforms or suffer self‑harm, and a 2025 UN report found that 28 % of women surveyed reported receiving threats of rape, beating or abduction online.
Kweitel highlighted the problem of artificial intelligence, which reflects the dominance of wealthy, English‑speaking developers. These systems erase local context, overlook indigenous knowledge and reinforce historical inequalities. The digital world is shaped largely by biased data, which reproduces and depends on existing disparities.
Africa now stands at a critical juncture, confronting deep structural inequalities, fragile institutions and limited capacity to regulate powerful tech companies. Kweitel called for collaboration among newsrooms, civil society, policymakers and regulators to build a fairer digital future. Journalists, in particular, must remain steadfast in public‑interest reporting and understand technology as a force reshaping every aspect of society.
The Media and Development Conference, running from 24 to 27 November 2025, brings together journalists, policymakers, researchers, diplomats, civil‑society leaders and technology experts to discuss governance, development and Africa’s evolving information ecosystem. Delegates from over a dozen African countries will explore topics such as democratic resilience, media sustainability, digital rights and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on public life, aiming to address the challenges posed by rapid technological disruption and shrinking civic space.
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