With over half of all reported cybercrime in Africa now reportedly AI (Artificial Intelligence)-enabled, the continent is facing a new phase of digital crime that demands a stronger and more coordinated response.
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)’s latest findings shows that cybercriminals are already exploiting the technology, and at a large scale. The findings come hot on the heels of a new report by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) which stresses the need for understanding AI technology and its capability.
Paradigm Initiative, a
pan-African organisation that advocates for digital rights and inclusion with
offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe and partners
in more than 27 African countries, has developed a primer titled, ‘What is the whole fuss about AI?’ which identifies
among others three key challenges with AI regulation including surveillance
without accountability, the use of Internet shutdowns as a regulatory mechanism
and the increase in copy and paste laws which fail to take local realities into
account.
The organisation emphasises
that AI users must ask the following critical questions regarding any AI
systems; how we benefit (from the technology) as a society, create inclusive
standards and the redress that exists when something goes wrong.
Another key element which
comes into play is the creation of inclusive standards while developing the AI
systems.
“A standard written without women, rural communities, people with
disabilities or African languages will fail them by design,” the report by PIN
states in part. Paradigm Initiative observes that as much as AI strategies
in African countries are multiplying, safeguards are lacking, with questions
emerging as to whether the frameworks are rights-respecting, home-grown and
open to the public.
INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, released on 3
August, reports that 55 percent of cybercrimes reported in Africa are
AI-enabled, while cybercrime-related financial losses have more than doubled
since 2024 to reach USD ($) 484 million.
It further highlights that
online scams are the most frequently reported form of cybercrime, with
financial services, telecoms, and government institutions being the hardest
hit.
It also reveals that cybercrime-related financial losses have more than
doubled since 2024, and criminals are bypassing biometric checks by creating
AI-generated synthetic identities that combine real personal data with
fabricated elements.
These findings underscore the
rapidly evolving nature of cybercrime across Africa and the growing
sophistication of the actors behind it, as well as the scale and urgency of the
challenge.
Paradigm Initiative insists
that governments and other stakeholders should not approach emerging
technologies such as artificial intelligence solely through the lens of risk or
restriction.
This requires an equally dynamic response that brings together
governments, law enforcement agencies, technology companies, financial
institutions, civil society, researchers, and users of digital platforms.
The
organisation advocates for the presence of the right stakeholders at the table
to develop meaningful, practical and rights-respecting solutions that address
abuse while ensuring that these technologies are maximised for public good.
“PIN remains committed to
advancing digital rights and inclusion across Africa and supporting solutions
that make the digital environment safer, more inclusive, and more resilient
without compromising the fundamental rights of the people it is meant to serve,” the CSO said.
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