The responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and social media was at the core of South Africa’s message at the TikTok Safer Internet Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong attended the Summit where he reiterated the significance of strong ties between South Africa and Kenya especially in advancing digital safety and the integrity of AI systems.
Morolong highlighted how the growing reliance on digital networks has shaped government institutions.
“For centuries, societies were organised through visible bureaucracies: governments, institutions and administrations. These were slow, human and limited by geography. However, today humanity has created a new form of bureaucracy: the global digital network. Algorithms that shape how billions of people receive and consume information every single day power this bureaucracy. Social media platforms including TikTok, are now part of this new digital bureaucracy.They organise attention, distribute narratives, amplify voices and influence how societies understand or perceive the truth, authority and reality itself. This therefore makes information integrity one of the defining governance challenges of the 21st century”, he explained.
The Deputy Minister’s address also delved into the harmful impacts of AI especially if not managed responsibly.
“While we acknowledge how digital networks can spread knowledge, creativity and opportunity, we must accept that they also spread something far more dangerous: misinformation, disinformation. These three forms of harmful information have different origins but the same destructive impact. Together, they undermine trust in institutions, polarise communities and threaten democratic stability”, said Morolong.
He encouraged more governmental partnerships in programmes to promote digital literacy and coordinated communication systems.
Morolong applauded the convening of the Summit adding that it will drive conversations aimed to amplify the voices of the people as well as equip the youth with the necessary tools to recognise fake news and misinformation.
