African governments urged to strengthen online safety at Summit
Safety continues to be a top priority for TikTok, which is why we remain committed to ensuring a secure and positive environment for all users. This was demonstrated at the Second Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit, hosted in Cape Town.
The event brought together government officials, regulators and industry leaders from across the region. Delegates from countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and others gathered to discuss crucial issues related to online safety, content moderation and digital policy development.
The Summit, officially opened by Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, highlighted the importance of collaboration between governments, technology platforms and communities to foster a safer digital ecosystem
Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President for Public Policy, reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to user safety and the role of partnerships in building 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,’ she said.
‘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 and Government Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa, further emphasised the value of collective action, stating that the Summit serves as a critical platform for sharing insights, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that African users – particularly young people – are protected online.
Based on our latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, there has been a significant upward trend in its content removal rate across Sub-Saharan Africa, with data showing a 249.81% increase in content removals from the second quarter of 2023 to the fourth quarter of 2024
This improvement is in line with our global content moderation and enforcement standards, and highlights our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and positive online environment through robust, technology-enabled content moderation systems
As part of our broader commitment to digital safety and education, we are expanding efforts across Africa through strategic partnerships and training programmes that promote digital literacy, safety awareness, and responsible content creation.
At the forefront of these efforts is our flagship #SaferTogether campaign, which has achieved notable milestones since its launch in 2022.
Kenya
The initiative, run in partnership with Eveminet, a youth online protection organisation, has reached over 406 000 participantsthrough in-person workshops. These sessions have provided students, teachers, and parents with the tools and knowledge needed for safe and responsible online engagement.
By working closely with civil society organisations, educators, and government agencies, we continue to integrate proactive safety measures into our platform governance.
Nigeria
TikTok 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 including Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, the second phase aims to scale safety awareness efforts across additional states.
Since September 2024, we have also partnered with local creators across Sub-Saharan Africa to raise awareness of TikTok’s safety features and Community Guidelines.
The Summit serves as an essential forum for best practice sharing between industry leaders and policymakers.
‘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,’ said Mgwili-Sibanda.
Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director, Regulation and Compliance at the NITDA, said, ‘We value forums such as [this] 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.’
South Africa’s Film and Publication Board (FPB) Acting Chief Executive Officer Ephraim Tlhako noted the FPB’s ‘gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Summit’.
‘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.’
- This article was first published here
- For more information on TikTok’s safety policies and initiatives, visit its Safety Centre, Guardian’s Guide and Youth Safety Center
