TikTok Unveils First-Ever Safety Advisory Council for Sub-Saharan Africa

TikTok is taking major steps to boost safety on its platform across Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of its inaugural Safety Advisory Council.

The platform has also announced the expansion of its #SaferTogether community education campaign in the region.

This announcement was made at TikTok's Safety Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.

By partnering with key stakeholders, including policymakers, members from academia, NGOs, and community leaders, TikTok says it aims to foster a collaborative approach to ensuring a secure and positive platform environment.

"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. This group of leaders was chosen for their broad range of expertise and experience, and we look forward to working with them over the coming years," said Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships, Trust and Safety, TikTok.

Since 2020, TikTok has established nine regional Safety Advisory Councils alongside the U.S. Content Advisory Council, each composed of experts in areas such as youth safety, free expression, and hate speech. TikTok says these councils play a vital role in shaping its policies, product features, and safety processes, ensuring the platform remains responsive to evolving challenges.

The newly launched Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council will further this effort by bringing together local experts who will collaborate with TikTok to develop forward-looking policies and address regional safety concerns. Their input will help TikTok manage current issues and anticipate future challenges, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to user safety and fostering a positive online environment.

Members of the Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council are:

Prof Guy Berger, Rhodes University (South Africa)
Dennis Coffie, Content creator (Ghana)
Peter Cunliffe-Jones, University of Westminster Visiting Research Fellow (UK)
Aisha Dabo, Co-Founder and coordinator of AfricTivistes (Senegal)
Lillian Kariuki, Founder and Executive Director of Watoto Watch Network (Kenya)
Dr Akinola Olojo, Expert on preventing and countering violent extremism (Nigeria)
Prof Medhane Tadesse, Policy academic on peace and security issues (Ethiopia)
Berhan Taye, Independent Researcher (Ethiopia)