technology regulatory practices and has seen a flurry of instruments in recent times, all aimed at addressing emerging challenges hence the EU Digital Services Act75 or EU Artificial Intelligence Act76 among others. These Acts will reinforce position of the EU as an influencer in regulatory processes and integrated economy driven by the protection of personal data from a human rights perspective and encouraging data sharing and cross border data transfers. Cross border data transfers are increasing with the development of integrated and digital single markets (DSM). The regulatory environment is not responding with speed to enable an African or Southern African digital single market (DSM) that protects personal data across borders. A fragmented regional legal regime complicates regional market integration and undermines the usefulness of data transfers in a digital economy. The rapid ratification of trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) demonstrates the importance of free movement of goods and persons, and data across borders. And in this regard, data protection authorities are essential to realisation of DSM not only from a trade perspective but enforcing the multidimensional aspect of data privacy, easily ignored trade conversations. The use of binding corporate rules (BCR) and standard contract clauses (SCR) mentioned in most data protection laws, is a short-term and very transactional in nature. However, as countries are moving to adopt digital identity systems or more robust digital economies, BCRs and SCRs are insufficient, as country risk are wider than single company or transaction certification. Holistic data protection based on adequacy determination and certification is ideal in advancing regional integration. The cost of data breaches on companies is huge, and unfortunately the cost of individual privacy is hardly calculated. Absence of a culture of transparency and accountability, especially among public data controller means that, data breaches in African countries are not public. A few private data controllers have disclosed breaches in South Africa, but in other countries there is denial or total secrecy which feeds into the non-transparent conduct on many private data controllers. In addition, there is a general contempt and disregard for nonWestern authorities especially by global technology private companies. The instruments at the disposal of global south, especially African DPAs is limited. The perceived or real limited economic and market interests in African Digital Services Act came into force on November . The DSA protects users and contest removal of content by platforms, provides for dispute resolution mechanisms, transparent terms and conditions for platforms; stronger obligations for large online platforms to assess and mitigate risks, protections for minors, bans on targeted adverts on online platforms directed at minors or using sensitive personal data among others. European Commission. . Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence Artificial Intelligence Act and amending certain Union legislative acts. COM/ / final. Available at: https://eur lex.europa.eu/legal content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX: PC accessed April PAGE