In a significant move to enhance user safety across Africa, TikTok has announced the formation of its inaugural Safety Advisory Council for Sub-Saharan Africa. Unveiled at the TikTok Safety Summit in Nairobi, the eight-member council features a diverse group of experts including one Kenyan, Lillian Kariuki, the Founder and Executive Director of Watoto Watch Network.
The council, which also includes academics, content creators, and policy specialists from across the continent, is tasked with advising TikTok on creating a safer online environment. Members like Professor Guy Berger from Rhodes University, Dennis Coffie, a Ghanaian content creator, and Berhan Taye, an Ethiopian researcher, bring a range of expertise from areas such as youth safety, countering extremism, and digital rights.
This initiative coincides with the expansion of TikTok’s #SaferTogether campaign, an effort aimed at raising community awareness about the platform’s safety features and guidelines. The campaign includes educational workshops, social media engagement, and partnerships with local organizations to ensure users understand how to navigate the platform securely.
Valiant Richey, TikTok’s Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, emphasized the importance of incorporating African perspectives into the company’s global safety framework. “With the launch of the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council, we are demonstrating our commitment to including expert African voices in our trust and safety work,” Richey stated.
The council’s role is crucial in shaping TikTok’s policies and safety measures, ensuring that the platform remains responsive to the unique challenges of the African digital landscape. The #SaferTogether campaign, which aligns with the council’s objectives, underscores the shared responsibility of both TikTok and its users in maintaining a safe online community.
Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the collaborative nature of this safety effort. “This part of the campaign will speak directly to the TikTok community, to join us in making TikTok a safer space for all by ensuring they follow the Community Guidelines and use the safety features available to them. With the additional layer that the Safety Advisory Council presents, we believe that safety can be achieved, collectively,” he said.
Safety advisory council member Aisha Dabo, Co-Founder and coordinator of AfricTivistes in Senegal said the initiative coincides with the safe internet campaign, an effort aimed at raising community awareness about the platform’s safety features and guidelines. “The campaign includes educational workshops, social media engagement, and partnerships with local organizations to ensure users understand how to navigate the platform securely,” Dabo said.
Dr Akinola Olojo, an expert on preventing and countering violent extremism in Nigeria noted that as a region with the highest youth population in the world, Sub-Saharan Africa is a big deal when it comes to TikTok’s mission aimed at inspiring creativity on a large scale. “By establishing a Safety Advisory Council for Sub-Saharan Africa, TikTok is offering expression to the region’s talent and resourcefulness but also prioritising a safe and dignified environment for creators and users on its online platform. Serving on this council means being part of a team and community that is invested in TikTok’s mission and I’m looking forward to this experience.”
In July, Ofcom, the U.K.’s media regulator, fined TikTok $2.4 million for failing to accurately and swiftly respond to a request for information on the platform’s parental controls safety feature.
Its investigation uncovered “a number” of failings in the video-sharing platform’s data governance process. TikTok, it said, had insufficient checks in place leading to an inaccurate data submission to Ofcom, and was also slow in bringing the error to Ofcom’s attention for immediate remedy.
In April 2023, TikTok was fined £12.7 million by the UK’s data watchdog for failing to protect the privacy of children. It estimated TikTok allowed up to 1.4 million UK children aged under 13 to use the platform in 2020. The video-sharing site used the data of children of this age without parental consent, according to an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
As TikTok continues to expand its user base in Africa, the establishment of this council represents a proactive step towards addressing safety concerns in the region. The platform’s commitment to integrating local expertise into its safety strategies is likely to set a precedent for other social media companies operating on the continent.
With this initiative, TikTok not only aims to improve the safety and security of its users in Sub-Saharan Africa but also to foster a more informed and responsible digital community. The council’s input will be instrumental in guiding the platform’s policies, ensuring that TikTok can navigate the complexities of the African digital landscape while promoting positive and safe user experiences.