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Investigating Big Tech in Africa, Athandiwe Saba, GIJN Tech Focus Project

Image: GIJN, YouTube

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Athandiwe Saba Shares Practical Tips on Investigating Big Tech in Africa

by Athandiwe Saba • March 30, 2026

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In this masterclass video, investigative data journalist Athandiwe Saba of Code for Africa shares practical leads for reporters investigating the impact of Big Tech across the African continent. She explains how the tech industry is closely tied to the extraction of critical minerals (such as lithium and cobalt) used to power digital infrastructure and AI systems.

The session highlights concrete starting points for investigations, including using public registries and databases to trace supply chains and identify which companies source minerals from countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, or Rwanda. Saba also encourages journalists to connect the dots between mining, Big Tech companies, lobbying, and public policy.

Interview: Sarah Ulrich

Video Editing: Quentin Egloff

Music: Lionel Marçal

Filming: Ron Lopez – Reynald Ramirez – Hashim Hakeem

Supervision and Coordination: Sandrine Rigaud

Special Thanks: Glenn Chong

With the support of The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

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