ABSTRACT

A cursory glance at the historical development of the relations of Africa with the West, reveals that colonialism did not end but only evolved into a neocolonialism. While the former framework focused on acquisition of land asset (land grab), the present colonialism focuses on the exploitation of data asset (data grab), threatening new dimensions of our lives and future, still with the tact of a civilization mission. Through data colonialism effected with AI a social order is created that extracts data from persons generating massive wealth for few on a global scale. With three in eight people using Facebook, one in eight people using tiktok, etc., Africa again faces new threats of political domination and stagnation as digital technologies echoes the colonial era's power dynamic where technical advancements widened the gap between Africa and the rest of the world. The relevant questions in this work include: who data is extracted from, for what, and on what terms? This paper argues that Al as the product of Western technologies continuous, without violence, comes with the same colonial goals of explore (in this case, data territories- Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc), expand (expanding platforms and connections between platforms), exploit (exploiting new ways to sell apps and targeted advertising) and exterminate (eradicating alternative ways of thinking, and shaping thinking on racism and genocide). The paper using the critical and analytical methods, will examine the various ways AI continues to perpetuate colonial domination. This paper argues that AI has increased Africa’s dependence on the West, and challenges the colonial power structure. The paper proposes a change in the way AI is developed and used and encourages programs that will thrive on a balance of relations between Africa and the West