The digital landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa is expanding at an unprecedented rate, bringing with it incredible opportunities for connection, creativity, and economic growth. However, this rapid expansion also presents challenges, particularly in ensuring online safety and protecting vulnerable users. Recognizing the critical importance of this issue, governments, industry leaders, and community organizations convened at the Second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, to forge collaborative solutions and shape a safer digital future for the region.
The summit, a pivotal event in the ongoing effort to prioritize user safety on the continent, brought together delegates from South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and other nations. The discussions centered on crucial aspects of online safety, content moderation, and the development of digital policies that are both robust and adaptable to the unique challenges and opportunities within Sub-Saharan Africa.
A United Front for Digital Safety
The summit commenced with an address from South Africa’s Hon. Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, who emphasized the necessity of a collaborative approach. He highlighted that safeguarding the digital space requires the combined efforts of governments, technology platforms, and local communities, all working in concert to create a secure and empowering online environment.
Helena Lersch, Vice President for Public Policy at TikTok, echoed this sentiment, reaffirming the platform’s unwavering commitment to user safety and underscoring the vital role of partnerships in constructing a secure digital environment. “Billions of people come to TikTok every day to create, share, and connect, and we’re continually evolving our policies and practices to safeguard our platform so our community can discover and do what they love,” Lersch stated. “This summit underscores the importance of collaboration between industry leaders and regulators in shaping a digital ecosystem that is both innovative and secure.”
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, further emphasized the significance of collective action. She described the summit as a crucial platform for sharing insights, strengthening collaborations, and ensuring that African users, particularly young people, are shielded from online harms.
Content Moderation: A Growing Priority
A key focus of the summit was content moderation, a complex and ever-evolving challenge in the digital age. TikTok’s latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report reveals a significant upward trend in content removal rates across Sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrating the platform’s commitment to proactively addressing harmful content.
The data shows an impressive 249.81% increase in content removals from the second quarter of 2023 to the fourth quarter of 2024. This substantial improvement aligns with TikTok’s global content moderation and enforcement standards and reflects the ongoing refinement of technology-enabled content moderation systems. By investing in these robust systems, TikTok aims to create a safer and more positive online environment for its users in the region.
#SaferTogether: Empowering Users Through Education and Awareness
Beyond content moderation, the summit also highlighted the importance of digital literacy and safety awareness. TikTok is actively expanding its efforts across Africa through strategic partnerships and training programs designed to equip users with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
The #SaferTogether campaign, launched in 2022, is at the forefront of these efforts. This initiative has achieved remarkable milestones in promoting digital safety and responsible content creation.
In Kenya, the #SaferTogether initiative, in partnership with Eveminet, a youth online protection organization, has reached over 406,000 participants through in-person workshops. These sessions provide students, teachers, and parents with essential tools and knowledge for safe and responsible online engagement. By collaborating with civil society organizations, educators, and government agencies, TikTok is integrating proactive safety measures into its platform governance.
In Nigeria, TikTok has launched Phase 2 of the #SaferTogether campaign in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria (DSN). Building on the success of Phase 1, which reached parents in major cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, the second phase aims to scale safety awareness efforts across additional states. Since September 2024, TikTok has also partnered with local creators across Sub-Saharan Africa to raise awareness of the platform’s safety features and Community Guidelines.
These initiatives underscore the importance of empowering users with the knowledge and resources they need to protect themselves and others online. By fostering a culture of digital literacy and responsible online behavior, TikTok and its partners are working to create a safer and more positive digital environment for all.
A Platform for Collaboration and Progress
The Safer Internet Summit serves as an essential forum for best practice sharing between industry leaders and policymakers. It provides a unique opportunity for stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas, and collaborate on solutions to the challenges of online safety.
“Through this annual summit, we aim to bring together more policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to work together towards a common goal: ensuring that our digital spaces are safe, inclusive, and conducive to creativity and the future of Africa’s economic growth,” added Mgwili-Sibanda.
The summit also provides a valuable platform for government and regulatory bodies to share their perspectives and priorities. Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance at NITDA, emphasized the value of such forums, stating, “We value forums such as TikTok’s Safer Internet Summit, which bring policymakers into one room for a shared purpose: keeping internet users safe. We are incredibly proud to be a partner of TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign. This collaboration not only underscores our shared commitment to fostering a safer online environment but also opens new avenues for innovation and collaboration that will enable us to scale our efforts effectively for a safer internet for all.”
Ephraim Tlhako, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Film and Publication Board (FPB) in South Africa, echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the summit. “As the regulatory body in South Africa, we, at the Film and Publication Board (FPB), would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the recent Safer Internet Summit hosted by TikTok,” Tlhako said. “We greatly value the importance of platforms like TikTok in nurturing creativity and providing channels for expression throughout the continent. Our involvement in the summit has reinforced our commitment to continuous collaboration aimed at shaping policies and regulations that promote a secure, responsible, and supportive online ecosystem. By doing so, we strive to facilitate an environment where innovation and economic prospects can thrive for the benefit of South Africans.”
Building a Safer Digital Future Together
The Second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit in Cape Town marked a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to create a safer and more empowering digital environment for users across the region. By fostering collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and community organizations, the summit has paved the way for innovative solutions and effective policies that will protect vulnerable users and promote responsible online behavior.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial that stakeholders remain committed to working together to address the challenges of online safety. Through ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and investment in digital literacy and safety awareness programs, Sub-Saharan Africa can harness the power of the internet to drive economic growth, foster creativity, and connect communities while safeguarding its users from harm. The journey towards a safer digital future is a collective one, and the Safer Internet Summit serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity and collaboration in achieving this vital goal.
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