Safer Internet Summit: TikTok and African authorities unite for a responsible Internet 🔒

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During the second TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit, held in Cape Town, South Africa, TikTok brought together government representatives, regulators, and digital industry stakeholders. Delegations from several countries, including Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Côte d’Ivoire, participated in this event focused on content moderation and digital policies.

Collaborating for a secure digital space 🤝

The summit was opened by Solly Malatsi, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies. He emphasized the need for close cooperation between governments, technology companies, and communities to ensure a secure digital environment.

Helena Lersch, TikTok’s Vice President of Public Affairs, reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to user safety.

« Millions of people use TikTok every day to create, share, and connect. We constantly evolve to ensure a safe space where everyone can express themselves freely. This summit highlights the importance of dialogue between industry leaders and regulators in building a digital ecosystem that is both innovative and secure. »

Stricter content moderation in Sub-Saharan Africa 🛡️

On this occasion, TikTok unveiled the results of its latest report on the enforcement of its community guidelines in Sub-Saharan Africa. Indeed, statistics show a 249.81% increase in the content removal rate between Q2 2023 and Q4 2023. This rise reflects TikTok’s progress in content moderation, leveraging advanced technologies to ensure a safer online environment.

#SaferTogether: A campaign to promote responsible internet use 📢

TikTok is also expanding its commitment to digital education through training on digital literacy and responsible content creation. Since 2022, the #SaferTogether campaign has raised awareness among hundreds of thousands of people about responsible internet use.

• In Kenya, in collaboration with the Eveminet organization, the initiative has reached over 406,000 participants through workshops.
• In Nigeria, Phase 2 of the program, launched with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Data Science Nigeria, aims to expand awareness efforts across several states.
• Across Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok has been partnering with local content creators since September 2024 to promote the platform’s safety features.

Strengthened cooperation with African authorities 🌍

The Safer Internet Summit has become a key platform for exchanges between policymakers and digital industry stakeholders. According to Emmanuel Edet, Deputy Director of NITDA: « We are proud to collaborate with TikTok on the #SaferTogether campaign. This partnership strengthens our shared commitment to building a safer and more inclusive internet. »

Ephraim Tlhako, Acting CEO of South Africa’s Film and Publication Board, emphasized the importance of this campaign. He stated that it must contribute to enforcing regulations that promote a secure digital environment.

Thanks to these initiatives and the growing involvement of African governments and regulators, TikTok aims to continue strengthening user safety. The social network also seeks to preserve creativity and innovation on its platform.

What other measures do you think could be implemented to ensure a safer internet in Africa? Let us know in the comments 🙂‍↕️