AI Regulation in the Republic of Chad (African Union)

Chad, like most of the countries on the African continent, is in an infant state when talking about digitization, and to date, very minimal to no information has been drafted that specifically relates to AI regulations. Several factors would probably limit the development of AI regulations in Chad: among them, low digital infrastructure, low levels of technological adoption, and other pressing socio-economic challenges.

Chad, having one of the lowest internet penetration rates in the world, which is a major hindrance to the acceptance and regulation of AI technologies in Chad and with such limited access to the internet and digital devices, the development of AI is not a priority. While the government of Chad does show interest in the realm of digital technologies, it has so far not made any public declarations or published any efforts targeted at AI and any existing digital policy framework for this country would more likely focus on basic ICT infrastructures and education rather than advanced technologies like AI.

Chad is a member of numerous regional organizations that have just started discussing AI and digital policy at the continental level, particularly through the African Union and these may feed into Chad’s approach to AI regulation, though this is still in the early stages of discussion. While the specific regulations for AI in Chad may not be as detailed or developed as in some other countries, the existing data protection and cybersecurity laws provide a ground for tackling AI-related issues. It includes-

Data Protection: Most AI systems process significant amounts of personal data. Chad’s laws on the protection of data subjects—principally Decree No. 75 and Law No. 008/PR/2015 secure the fact that AI systems respect regulations on data collection, storage, and usage.

Cybersecurity: This entails the cybersecurity provisions under Law No. 009/PR/2015 and their updating by Order No. 008/PCMT/2022, which would ensure protection against threats an AI system could be exposed to, including data breaches and cyber-attacks.

National Agency’s Role: The National Agency for Computer Security and Electronic Certification shall be in charge of executing the laws on data protection and cybersecurity, which will indirectly impact the deployment and regulation of AI technologies and it is the preview of this agency that deals with the check to ensure an AI system fulfils all the conditions of the above-stated regulations.

Complying with Regional Standards: Chad, by adhering to the Malabo Convention, continues to show commitment to the regional standards in data protection and cybersecurity, which will shape how the governance of artificial intelligence systems will be in terms of regional compliance requirements.

Chad may begin to adopt components of these strategies or work with peers in neighbouring countries to come up with a more homogeneous approach toward the regulation of AI, as strategies on the continent are unfolded by the African Union and other regional bodies and to be able to effectively regulate or even widely implement AI in Chad, the country would have to invest in improving its digital infrastructure and increasing digital literacy among its populace. This will be a slow process, although it may very well be a necessary precursor to any meaningful AI regulation.