EU Presidency Urges TikTok to Tackle Misinformation Beyond Engagement Metrics

South Africa Urges TikTok to Combat Misinformation, Protect Democratic Discourse

The South African government has called on TikTok to strengthen its efforts against misinformation, highlighting the growing influence of social media platforms in shaping public understanding and democratic participation.

During the TikTok Safer Internet Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong emphasized that digital platforms now function as part of a “digital bureaucracy” with significant responsibilities to protect information integrity.

“Social media platforms, including TikTok, are now part of this new digital bureaucracy,” Morolong told summit delegates. “They organize attention, distribute narratives, amplify voices and influence how societies understand or perceive truth, authority and reality itself.”

The deputy minister warned that the scale and speed of digital networks enable misinformation to spread more rapidly and extensively than through traditional communication channels. “Together, they undermine trust in institutions, polarize communities and threaten democratic stability,” he said.

Morolong described information integrity as one of the most critical governance challenges of our era. With billions of users worldwide, he noted that TikTok has evolved beyond mere entertainment to become “one of the most influential cultural and communication platforms in the world.”

“That means TikTok is not just a platform for entertainment. It is also part of the digital bureaucracy that shapes public consciousness,” Morolong explained.

To address these concerns, the deputy minister outlined three specific areas where platforms like TikTok could lead innovation to reduce harmful information. First, he called for more responsible use of algorithms to prevent the amplification of false content. “Algorithms should not only optimize engagement. They should also actively identify and reduce the amplification of demonstrably false or harmful content,” he said.

Second, Morolong advocated for increased transparency regarding recommendation systems and content moderation processes. “Users must understand how information reaches them,” he stated, suggesting that greater transparency could help rebuild public trust in digital platforms.

Third, he emphasized the importance of digital literacy partnerships between governments, technology companies, and civil society organizations. “In an era where every citizen carries a publishing platform in his or her pocket, digital literacy has become as essential as traditional literacy,” Morolong noted.

The deputy minister was careful to clarify that government efforts to combat misinformation should not be misinterpreted as attempts to limit free speech. “This is not a call for censorship. It is a call for responsible stewardship of the digital public sphere,” he stressed.

Morolong indicated that South Africa is prepared to collaborate with TikTok on digital literacy programs designed to help citizens, particularly young people, identify misinformation and verify information sources. “Together, we can transform digital networks from engines of misinformation into engines of empowerment,” he said.

South Africa’s concerns come amid growing global scrutiny of social media platforms’ role in spreading false information. As digital platforms continue to evolve, governments worldwide are grappling with how to balance free expression with the need to protect democratic discourse from manipulation.

The summit in Nairobi represents part of TikTok’s efforts to engage with governments and stakeholders across Africa on issues of online safety and content moderation. Such dialogues have become increasingly important as the platform’s user base continues to expand across the continent.

Morolong concluded his address by calling for enhanced cooperation between African governments and digital platforms to foster a safer and more responsible online environment that serves the public interest while preserving fundamental freedoms.