The Institute of Development Studies published in March 2026 a major study titled "Smart City Surveillance in Africa: Mapping Chinese AI Surveillance Across 11 Countries" edited by Wairagala Wakabi and Tony Roberts.
The report provides a comprehensive account of smart city surveillance in Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. China is by far the largest supplier of AI surveillance technologies to African governments, including to all 11 covered in this study.
The rapid expansion of smart city surveillance is having a chilling effect on ordinary citizens and journalists. The scale and invasive nature of mass surveillance is often not legal, necessary, or proportionate. There is little evidence that the expansion of digital surveillance reduces overall crime.
