The rapidly changing digital landscape presents significant challenges for South African regulators, especially in dealing with issues like artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. This concern was echoed by the CEOs and a councillor from four public regulatory bodies during the launch of the Information, Communication Technologies, and Media Regulators Forum of South Africa.
This forum, which includes the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), the Film and Publication Board (FPB), the Information Regulator, and the .ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA), aims to foster collaboration, minimize regulatory overlap, and create more efficient regulations for the dynamic ICT and media sectors.
Executives from these regulatory entities discussed how digital advancements impact their responsibilities and mandates.
Mosalanyane Mosala, CEO of the Information Regulator, highlighted AI’s potential to violate personal data privacy as a top concern. He stressed the need for policy or collaborative engagement to address the risks associated with AI technology, particularly the unauthorized storage and transfer of personal information.
Direct marketing was also flagged as a critical issue, with the regulator consulting the industry on best practices to tackle unsolicited marketing. Mosala further emphasized the growing problem of security compromises, revealing that reported security breaches had skyrocketed from 590 incidents in 2022/23 to 1,727 in the following year, affecting both public and private sectors.
ZADNA CEO Molehe Wesi outlined the increasing challenges posed by cybersecurity breaches and domain name abuse. Wesi noted the rise in phishing, malware delivery, and scams through compromised domain names, which often appear as secure packages but contain hidden threats. He also pointed to AI-driven variations of domain names as a new tactic used to deceive users and steal sensitive information.
Wesi expressed hope that the forum would allow regulators to share best practices for closing these security gaps and improving their response to emerging threats.
Advocate Makhosazana Lindhorst, Acting CEO of the FPB, highlighted the risks children face online, such as exposure to age-inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and being exploited for child pornography. She emphasized the board’s role in safeguarding children and empowering parents to protect them, given the widespread access to mobile phones and social media platforms.
Lindhorst added that the convergence of technology means that collaboration between organizations like the FPB and the Information Regulator is essential, especially when protecting minors’ personal information.
Outgoing ICASA councillor Dr. Charley Lewis spoke about the growing convergence in telecommunications and banking sectors, noting that many companies now fall under the oversight of multiple regulators. Lewis underscored the importance of the newly established forum in aligning regulatory efforts to address market shifts and ensure coherent oversight.
“We don’t want to take away the authority of individual regulators,” said Lewis, “but it’s critical that we align our work, drawing from international regulatory best practices and research to address the issues we face.”
The forum represents a collective effort to adapt regulatory frameworks in response to the fast-evolving digital landscape while ensuring each agency continues to fulfill its mandate effectively.