AI, Personal Data Protection, And Corporate Liability In Ethiopia

Ethiopia has entered a pivotal phase in regulating the data- and algorithm-driven economy. Two developments define this moment: the adoption of Ethiopias first comprehensive Personal Data Protection Proclamation and the federal executives approval of a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy.

Introduction

AI systems are not just software. They are socio-technical decision tools trained and optimized on data, frequently including personal data. As Ethiopian firms deploy AI in finance, telecom, e-commerce, HR, transport, and public services, two legal questions become unavoidable:

• What rules govern corporate collection and use of personal data to build or run AI systems?
• Who pays when AI-driven processing causes harm?