Outcome of the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa
Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania
The inaugural AGM of NIMCA convened in Arusha from 14 to 16 July 2025 under the theme, ‘Advancing Media and Communication Regulations for Journalism Excellence in Africa’.
The gathering brought together 13 NIMCA media councils, as well as other journalism and media bodies, policymakers, civil society actors, academics, editors and international development partners from across Africa and beyond.
The AGM marked a significant milestone in the institutionalisation of NIMCA, following its formation in Cape Town in May 2024. Delegates agreed on constitutional provisions for the Network and elected its leadership as follows:
Delegates called on African governments to repeal laws that criminalise defamation, sedition and the publication of false information, and to adopt legislative and policy frameworks that strengthen independent journalism and freedom of expression, support media and information literacy, and promote the safety of journalists.
Advancing digital governance and information integrity
Recognising the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, delegates expressed concern about the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation, algorithmic bias and opaque platform practices.
They endorsed UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms and the ACHPR’s three Resolutions on developing African digital rights guidelines for freedom of expression, access to information and information integrity, focusing on issues such as the accountability of technology platforms, fact checking, information integrity, public service content in the digital age, and access to data.
The meeting called for a continental approach to digital governance that is rooted in African realities, prioritises freedom of expression and embeds safeguards to uphold public trust and media integrity.
South Africa’s Phathiswa Magopeni, the new Board Chairperson of NIMCA
Responding to Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies
Delegates noted the increasing use of AI in content creation and news curation, highlighting the ethical challenges this presents for accuracy, transparency and editorial independence. It called for the establishment of regulatory guardrails and newsroom-level practices that uphold journalistic standards while fostering innovation.
Promoting gender equity and disability inclusion
Delegates committed to institutionalising gender balance across all NIMCA governance structures and promoting inclusive media regulation practices.
The Summit stressed the importance of upholding disability rights and emphasised the need for accessible content, inclusive newsroom cultures and regulatory standards that reflect diverse lived experiences.
Strengthening media viability and sustainability
Acknowledging the financial precarity facing many media councils and newsrooms, delegates called for increased investment in public interest journalism and the development of innovative funding models for media regulation.
Participants urged media development partners to support the strengthening of regulatory bodies and fund research and innovation that contributes to media accountability and resilience.
Call to Action
NIMCA invites all voluntary self-regulation and statutory independent news content regulatory councils on the continent to join the network and collaborate in advancing rights-based, contextually-grounded regulatory models.
In the face of persistent threats to press freedom and information integrity, the AGM concluded with a resounding commitment to uphold the principles of editorial independence, transparency, inclusivity and public accountability
As Africa navigates complex challenges in the information ecosystem, NIMCA remains committed to building a media landscape where ethical journalism thrives, self-regulation is strengthened, and the public’s right to accurate, timely and diverse information is protected.
The NIMCA AGM was part of the proceedings of the 2nd Pan-African Media Councils Summit, hosted by the Media Council of Tanzania.
The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Beninese authorities to release Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, Publishing Director of the banned online Beninese weekly newspaper, Olofofo Info, following his arrest in Côte d’Ivoire on 10 July. He was then extradited to Benin, despite his refugee status in Togo.
‘The forcible transfer of journalist Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè by Côte d’Ivoire to Benin, despite his refugee status in Togo, sends a worrying message to journalists across the region,’ said Moussa Ngom, CPJ’s Francophone Africa representative. ‘He must be released immediately and unconditionally. Such aggressive, transnational tactics illustrate a cross-border collaboration to muzzle a critical journalist.’
On 14 July 2025, a judge at Benin’s Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET) upheld Sossoukpè’s detention in the southern city of Ouidah, pending a judicial investigation on charges of inciting rebellion, inciting hatred and violence, harassing through electronic communication, and apology for terrorism, according to a copy of the decision seen by CPJ.
Sossoukpè was in Côte d’Ivoire to cover a government conference when he was arrested. He has been living in Togo since 2019 and has held refugee status there since receiving threats in Benin, where he is from, related to his work.
Sossoukpè told Maximin Pognon, his lawyer, who spoke to CPJ, that four people identifying themselves as Ivorian law enforcement officers and a fifth as a ‘colonel of the gendarmerie’ asked him to respond to a summons. But Sossoukpè recognised two of them as Beninese police officers, Pognon said.
Sossoukpè said he demanded that they bring him before a judge, which they agreed to, but did not. Instead, they seized his phone and computer, took him briefly to an Ivorian law enforcement headquarters, and then escorted him aboard a plane that took him to Benin
Two people close to the case who asked not to be named for privacy reasons said that during the days before his arrest, Sossoukpè had alerted his friends that there were kidnapping plans against him.
CPJ’s calls and WhatsApp messages to Andy Kouassi, Public Relations Director of the Ivorian Ministry of Communication, and to Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, Spokesperson for the Beninese government, as well as CPJ’s email to the Ivorian gendarmerie, went unanswered.
Kenya is advancing legislation that would require all social media users in the country to verify their identities using National ID cards before accessing social media platforms.
The proposed measure aims to reduce online anonymity and combat issues like misinformation, hate speech and cyberbullying on social media platforms.
The initiative follows Kenya’s broader efforts to strengthen digital identity verification, including the country’s recent nationwide digital ID registration programme for secondary school students.
The development builds upon Kenya’s partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to advance its digital identity initiative.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has demonstrated a consistent regulatory approach toward digital services, as evidenced by recent enforcement actions against unlicensed tracking services. The regulatory oversight extends to the proposed social media verification requirements
The CA has recently been active in implementing new security measures to combat digital fraud, particularly in the mobile sector.
The legislation emerges amid ongoing discussions about digital rights and state control. During recent protests against the Finance Bill, authorities implemented Internet speed restrictions and detained online critics, highlighting the complex relationship between digital governance and civil liberties.
The developments follow a pattern of increased digital oversight, including the CA’s controversial directive requiring mobile phone International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) registration.
Implementation challenges may arise from existing barriers to National ID acquisition. Youth and marginalised populations have reported difficulties obtaining National IDs, as documented in public forums like the #SiasaYaID events, potentially affecting equal access to social media platforms under the proposed system.
However, recent initiatives have shown progress in expanding digital access, such as new regulation enabling refugees to access mobile services.
The Bill represents part of Kenya’s broader digital governance strategy, which includes blockchain-based digital tokens and enhanced oversight of digital services. The initiatives reflect the government’s efforts to balance online accountability with digital rights and access, while positioning Kenya as a leader in digital transformation across Africa.
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Chief Executive Officer, David Omwoyo, has landed a new role at the East African Press Councils (EAPC). In a press statement on 16 July, the EAPC said Omowyo was chosen at the election of its leadership team for the 2025-2027 term.
The regional body, which is dedicated to media regulation and content moderation, announced that the MCK boss is now its second Chairperson, and will succeed Kajubi Mukajanga of Tanzania.
The announcement was made during a strategic meeting of media regulators from the East African Community (EAC) on 15 July on the sidelines of the second Pan-African Media Councils Summit in Arusha
‘Omwoyo, previously the EAPC Secretary, brings extensive experience in advocating for uniform media standards across the region,’ read its statement. ‘His leadership is expected to bolster the EAPC’s mission to foster a free, accountable, and professional media landscape.’
Established in 2023, the EAPC unites media councils from EAC Partner States, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.
According to the body, the trio will serve two-year terms, guiding it towards the ambitious goals of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.
‘The plan focuses on five key areas:
fostering robust and independent journalism
embracing innovation to adapt to the evolving media landscape
ensuring the economic sustainability of media organisations
promoting high-quality, diverse and collaborative journalism, and
strengthening the EAPC’s long-term capacity and impact
The new leadership is expected to, among other things, advocate for harmonised accreditation for EAC member states through the development of a regional media protocol and to undertake a state-of-the-media survey for the region
During the EAPC inaugural Strategic Plan launch, Omwoyo described it as a significant milestone in the pursuit of media regulation and content moderation guided by common regional principles.
‘I am pleased that the resolve of media regulators in East Africa in 2019 to have a media that operates within values that we respect is finally achieved.’
The new Chairperson said the EAPC’s mission was geared towards ‘less of regulation and more of press freedom’.
As Africa’s media landscape transforms at pace, sustainable funding for media regulators dominated discussions at the second Pan-African Media Councils’ Summit in Arusha, Tanzania. Leaders and experts from across the continent underscored the pivotal role of media councils and regulatory bodies as cornerstones of democracy.
Emmanuel Mugisha, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Media Commission, asserted that governments must prioritise funding for media as a core pillar of governance and public accountability.
‘Just as governments sustain the judiciary and other state institutions, they must bolster media accountability and public interest journalism,’ he declared.
He proposed a media basket fund, potentially supported by telecom giants and tech firms that thrive on media content, to address the steep costs of quality journalism and ensure regulators’ independence.
David Omwoyo, CEO of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and East African Press Councils Secretary, showcased Kenya’s hybrid regulatory model, which blends public funding with autonomy. While effective in balancing press freedom and public interest, he acknowledged challenges, including representation and potential conflicts of interest.
‘These are the normal tensions of a thriving democracy,’ Omwoyo affirmed, advocating for funding mechanisms that shield regulators from political influence
Debate also centred on the feasibility of a unified African media regulation framework. An Algerian participant questioned why the continent could not adopt a singular model, to which Omwoyo responded that regulation must reflect unique political and social contexts, rendering a one-size-fits-all approach unworkable.
Instead, he urged countries to secure funding for public interest journalism while safeguarding regulatory independence.
Phathiswa Magopeni, Executive Director of the Press Council of South Africa, stressed the need for unfiltered, professional reporting. She argued that regulation should prioritise content over platforms, particularly in an era of digital media convergence.
Ernest Sungura, Chairman of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa (NIMCA) and Executive Director of the Media Council of Tanzania, called for collaboration, ethical standards and a bold Pan-African narrative
Describing the summit, co-hosted by NIMCA and the EAPC, as a ‘clarion call for a new era of media governance’, he urged regulators to champion a fearless, authentic voice that reflects Africa’s diversity and resilience.
In his keynote address, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Dr Tawfik Jelassi, reinforced the need for enabling legal frameworks and independent regulators to foster ethical journalism.
Highlighting three decades of progress in Africa’s media sector, he stressed that an independent, pluralistic and free press is vital for democracy.
Dr Jelassi called for cross-border collaboration to tackle challenges like AI, misinformation and climate change, warning that ‘trust in media is under global strain as technology reshapes information flows’.
The summit, themed ‘Advancing Media and Communications Regulation for Journalism Excellence in Africa’, was hailed as a transformative movement to elevate journalistic integrity and ensure Africa’s media reflects the aspirations of its people.
PICTURE: Namibia’s Zoe Titus, Tanzania’s Ernest Sungura, South Africa’s Phathiswa Magopeni, Kenya’s David Omwoyo and Rwanda’s Emmanuel Mugisha at the NIMCA Summit in Arusha (EAPC)
Major new research will help experts to counter the spread of misinformation in Africa and understand the causes and consequences of the continent’s growing digital divides.
The project, by researchers from the University of Exeter, will provide crucial information for the UK Government about the role of social media in galvanizing offline protest movements across Africa, and the logic behind foreign-origin disinformation and influence campaigns in the region.
Gadjanova will investigate how the public’s growing access to digital technologies and social media in Africa is influencing politics, parties’ organisational capacity and campaign strategies, electoral integrity, socio-economic inequalities and the nature and spread of misinformation in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia.
She has also studied which social media campaigns become viral and influence offline protest movements.
Gadjanova said: ‘I’m thankful to be awarded this fellowship, a result of my work over several years on the role and impact of digital technologies in Africa while here at Exeter, the research networks I have created across several countries, and experience with engaging with policymakers.’
‘This fellowship will support the [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] FCDO capacity to carry out prompt and in-depth analysis of the various impacts that digital technologies are having on the socio-economic transformation and changing power dynamics in Africa
‘This will ensure decisions reflect the latest research and evidence, and improve the FCDO’s capacity to respond to a fast-moving policy environment.
‘In particular, my research can inform the FCDO’s ongoing work on democracy support, electoral integrity, media freedom and countering the spread of social media disinformation in Africa. It is crucial everyone works together to battle the offline spread of misinformation originating online.
‘Improved digital literacy and institutional monitoring can help to counter the worst online harms. There is also a need to improve party institutionalisation to harness the potential of digital technologies to empower new political actors, increase political trust, and improve government accountability.’
Gadjanova has previously briefed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on African elections. Findings from her earlier research were cited by the Kenya Human Rights Commission in its evidence of electoral irregularities submitted to the Kenyan Supreme Court in August 2017.
The Innovation Fellowships scheme provides funding and support for established early-career and mid-career researchers to partner with organisations and business in the creative, cultural, public, private and policy sectors, to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. The aim is to create new and deeper links beyond academia.
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
PICTURE: Social media in sub-Saharan Africa is under the academic microscope (Aeqglobal.com)
Missing Burkinabe columnist Kalifara Séré reappeared at his home in Ouagadougou on 11 July. Abducted on 19 June 2024, the authorities had claimed he had been conscripted into the army.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), relieved that he was able to be reunited with his family, condemns the authorities’ attempts to silence dissenting voices and demands they communicate on the fate and whereabouts of six other journalists who have been forcibly disappeared or conscripted.
Séré returned ‘very frail, exhausted, and weakened, but he is fully conscious … he needs to rest‘, confided a source who was among the first to see the journalist upon his return after more than 380 days of absence
The leading commentator for the private television channel BF1 had not been heard from since 19 June 2024, the date of his hearing by the Higher Council of Communication (CSC). A security source confirmed to Agence France Presse (AFP) that the journalist’s ‘conscription’ had ‘ended’,
Four months after the 70-year-old journalist’s disappearance, on 24 October 2024, the Director General of Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice, Marcel Zongo, announced that Séré, along with Adama Bayala and Serge Oulon, fellow journalists perceived as critical of the authorities, had been conscripted ‘on the basis of the general mobilisation and warning decree’.
The Minister of Communication and government Spokesperson, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouedraogo, has not yet responded to RSF requests for comment.
‘RSF is relieved to learn that Kalifara Séré, who was clearly forcibly conscripted into the army, has been reunited with his family and loved ones,’ said Sadibou Marong, Director of the RSF Sub-Saharan Africa Desk.
‘Now that the news commentator is free, we call on Burkina Faso’s authorities to decide on the fate of Serge Oulon, Adama Bayala, Alain Traoré and all journalists who have disappeared or are alleged to have been conscripted into the army’
The Editor-in-Chief of the National Languages desk of the private media group Omega Media, Traoré, known as Alain Alain, is also missing. He was abducted from his home at dawn on 13 July 2024 by two armed individuals. The Burkinabe government made no mention of this when it acknowledged the ‘recruitment’ of the other three journalists.
A second group of three journalists suddenly disappeared last March. Guezouma Sanogo, a journalist with Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina (RTB) and President of the Burkina Faso Journalists Association (AJB), Boukari Ouoba, an investigative journalist and Vice-President of the AJB, and Luc Pagbelguem, a journalist with BF1, reappeared in a video broadcast on 2 April, wearing military uniform.
They were arrested by men identifying themselves as intelligence officers on 24 March 2025, three days after the first two journalists criticised the country’s deteriorating media landscape.
Keynote speech for the Pan-African Media Councils Summit and the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Network of Independent Media Councils in Africa
Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Communication and Information
Excellencies, Honorable Ministers,
Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Participants,
I am pleased to be here to address the second Pan-African Media Councils’ Summit, and to extend UNESCO greetings to all of you.
I would like to thank the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for its hospitality, and the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA) for convening this important gathering.
I am also pleased to recognise the presence of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Honorary Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo, whose work is essential in defending these fundamental rights.
We meet at a pivotal time. Across the globe, trust in media is being tested. Technology is transforming how information is produced and disseminated, and freedom of expression and access to information face growing pressure
In this context, we must remember the words that laid the foundation for the media landscape in Africa and beyond, more than 30 years ago in Namibia, through the Windhoek+30 Declaration: ‘The establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and sustainability of democracy in a nation.’
This vision – born in Africa and championed by Africans – remains more relevant than ever. Over the past three decades, countries across the continent have made significant progress in nurturing a vibrant media sector, driven by local efforts.
Much of this progress has been made possible by the creation of enabling environments: legal and policy frameworks that allow for independent regulators, support media self-regulation, and promote professional, ethical journalism. These foundations enabled journalism to thrive and gain people’s trust, even in the face of persistent and emerging challenges.
This Summit offers a critical opportunity to reaffirm a shared commitment: that journalism excellence is a cornerstone of democracy, human rights, and development in Africa
The central challenge before us is how to ensure that media and communication regulation keeps pace with rapid technological changes, while safeguarding information integrity, freedom of expression, and universal access to reliable information.
In the face of accelerating developments -Artificial Intelligence, disinformation, financial precarity – we must reflect on what forms of regulation are most effective, while remaining firmly grounded in international human rights’ standards.
When regulation is shaped by democratic principles, it can serve as an enabling force: protecting journalists, elevating standards, enhancing public trust and ensuring media freedom.
UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, released in November 2023, offer a model for this approach. These Guidelines advocate for a human rights-based multistakeholder framework to ensure that digital platforms operate transparently, remain accountable and respect international freedom of expression norms.
We also recognise that effective regulation must be inclusive by design. It must embed gender equality, uphold disability rights and protect the voices of those most often marginalised. In Madagascar, for example, UNESCO supported the institutionalisation of anti-harassment policies across 40 radio stations.
Building on this, UNESCO and OHCHR are developing a Human Rights Impact Assessment Guidance for Digital Platforms, helping companies conduct risk assessments that are not only gender-sensitive but inter-sectional, supporting women journalists and human rights defenders to navigate and mitigate online threats.
As part of our broader commitment to foster an ‘Internet for trust’, UNESCO is working in close partnership with Hon. Commissioner Topsy-Sonoo to advance Resolution 630, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in March 2025.
This Resolution tasks the Special Rapporteur with developing Guidelines to help States oversee technology companies’ responsibilities in upholding information integrity -including through independent fact-checking.
This work will integrate African perspectives into broader digital governance efforts, ensuring they reflect regional needs and realities
Ten universities have already launched initiatives focused on gender-sensitive reporting, Indigenous representation, environmental journalism, data literacy and media viability, ensuring that future journalists are equipped to navigate both local challenges and global trends.
At the heart of this work are national and regional media councils. When they are independent and accountable, these institutions serve as guardians of professionalism. They defend ethical journalism, address public complaints, support journalists’ safety and encourage self-regulation over State control.
These institutions must be protected, funded and respected as democratic actors. No single institution can meet these challenges alone. Cross-border collaboration and regional standards are essential
Through regional initiatives – from access to information reform to conflict-sensitive journalism and gender-based violence prevention – UNESCO has helped foster connections between media actors, governments and civil society across Africa.
Looking ahead, regulation must not merely respond to change; it must anticipate it. The transformative impact of AI, algorithmic governance and data-driven content distribution require forward-looking, human rights-based approaches. UNESCO is facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues across Africa and beyond, to ensure that innovation does not outpace our ethical and normative frameworks.
As the UN’s specialised agency for freedom of expression, UNESCO stands firmly behind African-led reforms that advance media freedom, pluralism, and sustainability. We are not just observers or advisors. We are committed partners.
As we look ahead, let’s reaffirm our commitment to these principles and to ensuring that Africa’s media landscape remains a beacon of democracy, dialogue, and sustainable development for generations to come. Your dedication as regulators, media councils, and partners is essential to building resilient information ecosystems, promoting accountability, and defending human rights.
UNESCO stands ready to deepen this collaboration, support innovation, and ensure that journalistic excellence continues to serve as a pillar of freedom and progress across the continent.
Thank you.
PICTURE: Dr Tawfik Jelassi joyfully receives a shuka, with all its rich history, at the Summit in Arusha. Ernest Sangura of the Media Council of Tanzania can be seen in the background
The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Senegalese authorities to release news commentator Badara Gadiaga, to cease arresting journalists and to refrain from retaliating against the media for coverage critical of the government.
Senegal’s Special Cybersecurity Division (DSC) arrested Gadiaga on 9 July 2025 over his remarks during a 4 July 2025 broadcast about Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. On 14 July 2025, a judge opened a judicial investigation and charged Gadiaga with spreading false news, immoral speech, insulting a person exercising the prerogatives of the head of state, and receiving or soliciting donations in order to engage in propaganda likely to disturb public order, his lawyer, El Hadji Omar Youm, told newsoutlets.
During the broadcast on private television channel Télé Futurs Médias (TFM), Gadiaga responded to criticism from a ruling party official by saying that the party should not give lessons in ethics because its leader, Sonko, had been ‘convicted of sexual abuse’
Sonko was sentencedin absentia in June 2023 to two years in prison for the ‘corruption of youth’. In April, Sonko said his opponents were using journalists and ‘so-called news commentators’ to spread false news and defame authorities.
‘These charges represent an escalation in the government’s punitive attitude toward the media and promote a dangerous conflation between the press and the political opposition,’ said Moussa Ngom, CPJ’s Francophone Africa representative.
‘Senegalese authorities must release news commentators Badara Gadiaga, Abdou Nguer, and Bachir Fofana, and refrain from reprisals against the media for their criticism. Alleged press offences should not be criminalised.’
On 10 July, Sonko alluded to the TV debate during a meeting with his party’s leadership and recommended that party members ‘stop going to television stations that fight [the party] … I fight those who fight me, and let those who use their tools to fight me know that I will go to the end’. He also called for a boycott of ‘television stations that fight him’.
L’Observateur, a newspaper owned by the same parent company as TFM, Groupe Futurs Médias, responded to Sonko’s comments with an editorial saying: ‘We are not a media affiliate of a party, nor a propaganda battalion, nor an instrument of validation. We are a newsroom’
Separately, deliberation of the trial of commentator Bachir Fofana, detained for allegedly spreading false news, has been postponed to 16 July, and another commentator, Abdou Nguer, has remained in prison since April on various charges.
CPJ’s calls to Sonko’s office and the justice ministry went unanswered.
Children’s rights should not be sidelined in the digital environment
Overview
Children across the globe are increasingly coming to terms with and engaging in a digital
world marked by both extraordinary promise and deep inequality. While the digital
environment offers unprecedented opportunities for learning, expression, and civic
engagement, many children remain disconnected, misrepresented, unprotected and at
risk of being misinformed.
The urgency of centering young voices in media integrity discussions is underscored by the 2024 Children in G20 findings, which reveal that 2.2-billion children and youth globally lack home Internet access, while those who are connected face significant rights violations including commercial exploitation, relentless data harvesting, behavioural profiling for advertising and inadequate protection standards.
The African child’s experience in the digital environment is uniquely shaped by a complex interplay of opportunity and adversity. Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with children and youth making up a significant proportion of its demographic landscape
The G20, as a global leader in digital governance, has a critical role to play in setting standards and fostering international cooperation that puts children’s rights at the centre of the digital future. This policy brief builds on G20 commitments to strengthen child and youth protection and participation in digital media.
Proposal to the G20
The G20 must recognise that building sustainable, inclusive and rights-respecting digital
communities means ensuring children are protected and empowered online.
As digital platforms continue to evolve rapidly, children in Africa, and globally, face urgent threats including unsafe online spaces, AI-driven surveillance and profiling of children, to deepfake technologies targeting minors, commercial exploitation of data, the digital divide and the explosion of mis and disinformation, all while being excluded from shaping digital
policies.
The G20 cannot afford to sideline children’s experiences, rights and best interest; they must be central to the global digital transformation agenda and uphold core protection principles of non-discrimination, protection, survival and development.
Defining the critical issue and role of the G20
The G20’s commitment to child online protection is not new. The 2021 High Level Principles for Children Protection and Empowerment in the Digital Environment
developed a framework that promotes governments’ adoption of measures that provide
for age-appropriate child safety by design, and which G20 members have been working
to implement.
Previous G20 efforts, documented through comprehensive toolkits, together with G20 Member States efforts (in the form of consultations with children in the 2024 edition of Children in the G20 by the Brazilian articulation group), have identified critical success factors in the discussion on children’s digital rights, including:
holding tech companies accountable
age-appropriate design
risk response assessment and mitigation
effective support systems, and
the essential role of states, civil society and business in safeguarding children online
Within the African context, the African Union’s Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy provides a continental framework recognising that children face exposure to hate speech, inappropriate content and online predators while acknowledging digital technologies’ transformative potential for education and development.
Together, these frameworks establish that protecting children online requires both regulatory oversight and corporate responsibility.
Five interconnected themes that the G20 must address
1Children in the media: Regarding access to and consumption of news and information integrity, media policy must adapt by supporting digital participation, inclusive content, and youth-driven storytelling to reflect their lived realities and strengthen their media literacy.
This is also very true for African children, who increasingly access news and information through social media, Search platforms and streaming services. As young minds increasingly turn to smartphones and tablets, they encounter a terrain riddled with algorithmic sinkholes, colonial data traps and disinformation mirages.
This is not merely an access gap; it is an integrity emergency, threatening an entire generation’s right to truth. At the click of a button, they are exposed to an overwhelming volume of content, ranging from political developments and community news to the latest celebrity trends
Online platforms prioritise content based on algorithms, likes, shares, and trending topics, rather than principles of fair representation and inclusivity. Algorithms and AI systems merge news and entertainment and blur the lines between fact and opinion, making it difficult for children to discern the importance of hard news.
Emotionally charged and sensational content dominates their feeds. Less sensationalised but equally important content, which affects children’s lives and needs are often being ignored in favour of clickbait content.
Furthermore, these algorithms quickly create echo chambers, reinforcing children’s preferences by serving them more of the same type of content.
2Media and information literacy (MIL): As digital technologies reshape communication, education, and public engagement, MIL has become a vital 21st-Century skill. MIL empowers individuals, including children, to critically assess content, navigate media systems, identify disinformation, and participate meaningfully in public discourse.
Children’s exposure to harmful digital experiences translates to violent content, mis- and disinformation, cyberbullying, online grooming and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) which have detrimental effects on children’s mental health and development
Climate disinformation, as discussed in MMA’s discussion document, deserves special mention because it undermines children’s ability to understand environmental issues and make informed decisions about climate action, potentially limiting their participation in climate activism and their capacity to address one of the most pressing challenges of their generation.
Media literacy must be framed as a rights-based issue, Article 17 of the UNCRC
recognises children’s right to access information from a diversity of sources and the
obligation of States to guide children’s use of media in ways that protect them from harm and promote their well-being.
Another important dimension is the empowerment of children as content creators. Media literacy is not only about being informed consumers of media but also about becoming thoughtful producers of content.
In a world where anyone with a smartphone can post a video, write a blog, or share an opinion, media literacy gives children the confidence and competence to share their own stories, advocate for issues they care about, and participate meaningfully in public discourse. Empowering children with MIL is thus crucial.
3 The impact of Artificial Intelligence on African children and their right to privacy: AI is increasingly embedded in the digital environments that African
children use – from the games they play and the content they consume, to the education
tools they use.
While AI offers substantial benefits for learning, innovation, and service delivery, it poses serious risks through a lack of transparency in decision-making, extensive data harvesting, and limited contextual understanding.
African children, many of whom face compounded vulnerabilities due to structural inequalities, are especially at risk when AI systems are not designed with their rights, best interests, and participation in mind
Current AI systems often harvest and process children’s personal data without meaningful consent or child-centred oversight, amplifying risks of commercial exploitation, surveillance, profiling, manipulation and discrimination. Surveillance and data commodification reduce children to profit-generating datasets.
From recommender systems that promote harmful content to biased algorithms that reproduce racial, linguistic or socio-economic inequalities, these systems can undermine children’s best interests, including:
Urgent safeguards are needed to ensure AI technologies are accountable, transparent, and developed with African children’s voices, contexts, and rights at the centre.
4 The long-standing issue of the Digital Divide: The lack of investment in meaningful Internet access in schools is another challenge that translates into the lack of digital learning and outdated or narrow curricula focused on risks rather than building critical thinking.
The Digital Divide reveals underlying barriers, including high data costs and insufficient digital literacy training for both adults and children, factors that limit the effective integration of technology in educational settings.
G20 countries must ensure that online platforms adopt an intersectional lens to address how digital exclusion and online violence disproportionately affect girls, children with disabilities and those in conflict zones in line with the principle of non-discrimination as enunciated by the CRC and the ACRWC
5 Children’s right to protection and participation: The digital environment presents both significant opportunities and complex risks for children, making both their protection and meaningful participation important.
Although formal bodies like the Children’s Parliament are valuable, their integration into policymaking remains largely symbolic. Equipping children with the skills and knowledge to engage meaningfully is essential, but efforts must also address structural inequalities in legislation, education, digital access, language diversity, as well as adult duty-bearers’
capacity to listen to and act on children’s views.
1 Supporting child-safe digital environments: What measures beyond content moderation could ensure platforms prioritise child protection over engagement metrics?
2 Information integrity for children: How best can we ensure that children have access to diverse content, but also promote and ensure children have access to credible, accurate information?
3 Media literacy as a fundamental right: How can media and information literacy be integrated into education systems as a foundational skill rather than an optional add-on?
4 Cultural sensitivity and pluralism: Should G20 countries enforce mechanisms ensuring AI is trained on data that reflects African cultures, especially for low-resourced languages and indigenous knowledge systems, to make sure these identities are not erased by technology?
5 The participation gap: Children are digital natives but remain excluded from governance decisions. How can meaningful child participation be institutionalised in digital policy-making beyond symbolic consultations?
6 Addressing the digital divide: How can universal, affordable and child-safe Internet access be achieved, particularly in low- and middle-income countries?
7 Transnational enforcement: What legal mechanisms can hold G20-based platforms accountable for cultural and other harms relating to African children?
Proposed text for inclusion in G20 outputs
For the Heads of States (‘Leaders Declaration’):
‘We acknowledge the vulnerabilities faced by children in the digital environment and
commit to promoting formal mechanisms for their participation in digital policy-making
processes, such as youth parliaments and inclusive consultations.
‘We will prioritise childcentred protection and participation frameworks into G20 commitments to ensure alignment with international human rights standards, as well as legal and regulatory measures to hold G20 technology-based companies accountable for digital harms to children.’
For the Digital Ministers 2025 Declaration:
‘In recognition of the evolving digital landscape and unequal risks faced by children online, there is an urgent need for G20 countries and beyond to promote and support digital platform’s adoption of child-centred safety standards which include ageappropriate child safety by design, transparent moderation, algorithmic accountability, accessible reporting tools and clear measures taken to prohibit predictive profiling of minors.
Media and information literacy must be integrated into educational systems, especially for low-income countries and communities as a foundation for promoting digital citizenship and building resilience against digital harms.’
Recommendations and opportunities for G20 media
As real-time reporting through social media becomes more widespread, media, guided by human rights institutions, can strengthen their role in promoting ethical standards that amplify accurate and credible information that promotes children’s rights and debunk inaccurate information that reinforces harmful stereotypes.
Media can lead efforts to develop and enforce guidelines on the ethical use of children’s images and stories in online content, ensuring their privacy, dignity and best interests, as well as to amplify marginalised voices of children when it is in their best interest
This includes providing practical guidance for journalists, citizen reporters and media platforms on consent, anonymisation, and child-sensitive storytelling, particularly in crisis or high-visibility situations.
For media to remain competitive, they can adopt innovative formats and storytelling approaches that are diverse, inclusive and that promote children’s rights and reflect their lived experiences, while upholding ethical standards.
News media can collaborate with civil society institutions and campaigns that prioritise digital and media literacy for children, to educate parents and children on how to identify and report disinformation online.
Additional documents and further reading
The 2021 High-Level Principles for Children Protection and Empowerment in the
Digital Environment (as above)
The M20 initiative is a ‘shadow’ parallel process set up to intersect with the G20 processes. The M20 seeks to persuade the G20 network of the most powerful global economies to recognise the news media’s relevance to their concerns.
As a collaborative M20 document, this paper is a working, live document. Share your suggestions or comments for consideration at [email protected]
For more information about the G20 process, which is hosted by South Africa in 2025, visit the website here
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