(Source: Image by Magnific)
The last report from the Films and Publications Board of South Africa, concerning online safety, highlighted the urgency of regulating online experiences
The document titled ‘Impact of Technology on Online and Social Harms’ pointed out major threats posed by the rapid advancements of emerging technologies and the influence on how content is produced
It cited that Internet users are at risk of being violated by the augmented content, prompted by third parties and other unsolicited online harms such as non-consensual sharing of intimate material or image-based abuse, insults, misinformation campaigns and social exclusion
According to Tokunbo Ibrahim, TikTok’s acting head of government relations and public policy for sub-Saharan Africa, African countries are increasingly consolidating efforts to build safer and more inclusive digital ecosystems through multi-stakeholder collaboration, policy alignment, and innovation-driven partnerships
She indicated that online safety has no finish line
The platform recently spearheaded a misinformation takedown campaign in Kenya, resulting in the removal of over 800,000 videos and the deleting of just under 50,000 underage accounts
In Ibrahim’s view, online safety requires endless collective effort, as she pledged TikTok’s commitment to the protection of users on its platform
“We have succeeded at creating a powerful platform for African countries to meet, connect and consolidate their efforts toward building safer digital ecosystems, taking learnings from each other’s jurisdictions,” Ibrahim said
“These engagements play a critical role in helping policymakers make informed decisions when developing regulations and frameworks around online safety,” she added
South Africa and Kenya’s strong economic ties naturalize the importance of a harmonized digital regulatory stance
Tokunbo Ibrahim, acting head of government relations and public policy for sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok
A report titledSafe Digital Space for Children,born out of the Digital Cooperation Organization’s (DCO’s) Digital Space Accelerator global roundtable discussions launched in 2023, focuses on the importance of addressing threats inherent in the rapid growth of emerging technologies
The discussions, initially rolled out in three cities (Riyadh, Cape Town and Geneva), have inspired the ongoing efforts from technology companies to encourage participation from governments and policymakers, the private sector, educators and parents, as well as young people
Positioning emerging technologies for user protection
Experts believe that discussions on the existing threats inherent in a digitally advancing society should not hinder prospects of the digital economy
These engagements should include enabling the means of capacitating law enforcement agencies with investigative and cyber capacities to track and identify digitized waves of human rights abuses
Michael Murungi, government affairs lead at Google Eastern Africa, said that Kenya and South Africa’s consolidated efforts in prioritizing online safety are emulating crucial steps in advancing the African Union (AU) Continental AI Strategy
He said it is crucial to allow a policy around emerging technologies that prioritize innovation while addressing socio-economic inequalities
“Both countries recognize that a safe and equitable digital ecosystem requires simultaneous investment in foundational infrastructure and inclusive skills development,” said Murungi
“Through prioritizing tangible, locally relevant outcomes, such as utilizing AI for educational inclusion, food security and health care, AI can advance communities. These collaborative frameworks are crucial for ensuring that AI benefits society equitably without perpetuating exclusion,” he added
The Google-commissionedAI Policy Blueprint for Africa reportserves as a commitment to help the region achieve its ideals, with emerging technologies as an enabler
Murungi said that Google stands behind solid governance frameworks and skilling policies as the key to ensuring that emerging technologies do not exacerbate the deep socio-economic inequalities
Google’s approach is characterized by the four pillars of providing resilient infrastructure, skilling communities, technological innovation and advocating for enabling digital policies
Michael Murungi, government affairs lead at Google Eastern Africa
The Films and Publications Board report suggests that for the protection of users to be effective, it is important to observe the three layers of online harm
The first being ‘harm by content production,’ followed ‘harm by distribution’ and ‘harm by viewing.’
The Film and Publication Board processes numerous complaints about online activities annually, ranging from hosting of inappropriate content for underage viewers, distribution of prohibited materials, unauthorized distribution of material generated through deep fakes, social media disinformation campaigns and cyberbullying
Once these complaints are processed, assistance with fast tracking them to investigations officers in law enforcement is then provided
Harmonizing pan-African policy frameworks
The DCO report stipulated the importance of creating digital environments where individuals, especially children, can interact, communicate and engage without falling prey to the risks of harm or online exploitation
The report highlighted the importance of having stricter stakeholders to consistently hold technology companies to account by being transparent and forthcoming with regards to privacy control and interactive reporting mechanisms
Equally important is the urgency required to collaborate with law enforcement in addressing inappropriate content
The DCO report pointed out that at its peak, in March 2020, COVID-19 halted 1.6 billion students worldwide from attending physical classes, forcing them to resort to using technology to access education
It heralded this achievement, while not turning a blind eye to the heightened online risks that came with increased online access
TikTok’s growing traction is often credited to the video sharing platform’s capacityas an educational platform
Due to this, TikTok has doubled its safety efforts for its school going user base across the sub-Saharan market
“Teen accounts on TikTok have more than 50 preset safety, privacy, and security features and settings automatically turned on by default, so they can safely express their creativity, connect with friends, and learn on TikTok,” said Ibrahim
“If a parent decides that they want their teen to continue to have a more limited experience, we make it easy for them to do this in Family Pairing, which allows parents and guardians to link their accounts with their teens to manage content, privacy, and well-being settings,” she added
The DCO’s Safe Digital Space for Children report indicated that understanding a country’s social, economic, political, cultural and religious realities when designing online safety policies is key as they must remain within societal moral standards
The report isolated the rapid advancement of smart devices and the addictive nature of social media algorithms as a double-edged sword
Stating that every individual should be afforded the right to protect their own interpersonal, institutional and commercial privacy standards
Integrating AI-led safety features
Deploying AI to assist in driving content moderation is one positive use of the technology
Murungi highlighted that making sure these emerging frameworks remain balanced and risk-based is an ongoing challenge
He said there must be robust protection for the vulnerable, without imposing rigid rules that could stifle digital innovation
“Google has tools to allow parents to monitor their children’s technology use through the Family Link facility. We have championed the course through the ‘Be The Legend’, ‘YouTube Kids’ and ‘Supervised Experiences’ initiatives,” Murungi explained
“Modern youth is navigating a landscape that is immersed. It is imperative for organizations like Google to ensure that these online environments are secure and constructive. Upholding governance models that prioritize user protection alongside maintaining technological progress,” he added
Google’s AI Research Centre in Accra, Ghana, is the organization’scommitment to building local capacity and skillsfor globally secure platforms
Ibrahim is also optimistic that the AU Continental AI Strategy will decrease fragmentation in policy, fast-tracking investment into those spaces
Technology companies’ partnerships with the AU represent a multi-year commitment to access and engage with diverse markets across Africa on various barriers facing communities around the continent