Engineers across Africa are urging ethical use of artificial intelligence as the technology expands into areas affected by insecurity, forced labour, and human trafficking. Experts say AI can help improve safety, but caution that it must not compromise human rights.

Nigerian software engineer Ayotunde Somoye said the issue is both personal and technical. After years of developing large commercial systems used by millions, he has increasingly focused on applying AI to tackle security threats and human trafficking across the continent.

“Behind every data point is a person, and that has to matter when we talk about security or human rights,” Somoye said in a statement. He stressed that AI should assist human investigators rather than replace them, helping to detect risks while leaving final decisions to people.

In many parts of the continent, insecurity and organised crime first manifest not as headlines but as disrupted livelihoods, unsafe journeys, or individuals disappearing into exploitative work. Law enforcement agencies and NGOs often rely on incomplete information, reacting only after harm has occurred.

Somoye believes AI can help close that gap by spotting early warning signs, similar to systems that detect financial fraud or cyber threats. “We trust technology to protect our money and our identities,” he said. “The real question is why we struggle to use it, carefully and ethically, to protect people.”

Human trafficking and modern slavery remain particularly hard to combat because victims are hidden in informal recruitment networks or complex supply chains. Somoye’s research explores how AI can identify unusual patterns in employment or recruitment data while leaving final judgment to human investigators.

He has also examined how transparent digital systems can help workers find legitimate jobs, reducing the risk of exploitation before it begins. Despite AI’s promise, Somoye is cautious. He acknowledges fears that technology meant to protect could instead be used to monitor, exclude, or silence vulnerable communities.

“If these systems are built without care, they can easily harm the very people they’re meant to protect,” he said, adding that ethics, privacy, and accountability must be central to design.

Beyond coding, Somoye mentors younger engineers across Africa, encouraging them to consider not just what they can build, but why. Several platforms he has advised now serve tens of thousands of users. Observers say this reflects a quiet shift: African engineers are not simply adopting global technologies; they are reshaping them to fit local realities.

The push for ethical AI aligns with broader initiatives in Nigeria and globally. Google recently committed N3bn to expand AI talent and digital safety, supporting programs that strengthen cybersecurity and embed advanced AI curricula in universities.

The Nigerian government is advancing the National AI Strategy, with draft legislation proposing mandatory registration and licensing for AI developers, risk-based classification, and requirements for ethical use.

“Developments like these show that ethical AI is no longer optional,” Somoye said. “Technology can protect people, but only if it is designed, deployed, and governed responsibly.”