A Free, Inclusive, and Resilient Digital Future for the Global South!
In recent years, East Africa has witnessed the rapid growth of digital financial platforms evolving into "super apps," reshaping the digital economy and public service delivery. This project focuses on two dominant super apps—Ethiopia's Telebirr and Kenya's M-Pesa—that exemplify the multifunctional aggregation model inspired by platforms like WeChat and Alipay. These apps extend far beyond mobile payments, integrating various third-party services and national digital ID systems, such as Ethiopia’s Fayda, to create all-encompassing digital ecosystems. However, alongside convenience and innovation, these super apps pose significant risks related to user data exploitation, surveillance, and state control
This project examines the surveillance vulnerabilities within super apps like Telebirr and M-Pesa, focusing on their data collection practices, government and corporate involvement, and potential misuse of sensitive information, particularly against marginalized communities. It also explores privacy risks arising from the integration of government services and investigates how civil society and users develop strategies to resist invasive data practices and safeguard digital rights. Key questions address data sharing mechanisms and privacy vulnerabilities of these emerging super apps.
In addition, this project also plans to examine the roles and influence of external actors, including Huawei, Vodafone, and the World Bank, in shaping the digital ecosystems of East Africa. By investigating their contributions to the technological infrastructure and policy frameworks, this study seeks to understand how these global stakeholders impact data governance and surveillance practices. The research benefits from a collaborative effort involving researchers and ICT practitioners from Paradigm Initiative, the African Digital Rights Hub, and the University of Cape Town, ensuring a multidisciplinary and locally grounded perspective.
The Emerging Super App Model in East Africa
