From Pixels to Prosperity: Navigating Legal Frontiers and Disruptive Innovation Across Africa (with Susan “Guya” Obunga Otieno)

It is clear that African nations are gearing up for a major leap forward in economic growth thanks to recent technological innovations in artificial intelligence and enhanced availability of technology tools to individuals. The African Development Bank anticipates an average of 4 percent real GDP growth in 2023 and 2024. How are legal frameworks keeping pace with that growth, especially regarding disruptive technology?In this episode of Explain to Shane, Shane interviews Susan "Guya" Obunga Otieno, a legal advisor for PICHA, a Kenyan digital media company that specializes in African photography and digital imagery. They discuss the state of privacy law in Africa, the growing African stock photography market, generative artificial intelligence and African languages, and how PICHA is working to empower African photographers and the intellectual property elements of the business.Guya shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Africa, the power of photography to tell stories and connect people, and the importance of protecting the privacy of African citizens. Shane emphasizes the need for revised privacy laws here in the United States to enable data protection on an international scale. This is a fascinating and timely episode that will give you a new perspective on African industry and the people who are growing it.