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Regulators from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria are working on a common framework to control the massive volumes of unfiltered online content that poses potential harm to vulnerable groups such as children.
The harmonised regulation framework wll provide a harmonious ground rules for broadcast, video-on-demand and over-the-top content in both legacy and new media.
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The framework will control the massive volumes of unfiltered online content that poses harm to vulnerable groups.
According to the officials for the countries, digital platforms have become a prime breeding ground for child grooming and circulation of child sexual abuse material by syndicates that operate across national boundaries.The world is facing sustained threat of online sexual abuse, and evidence suggests the scale of this abuse is increasing at an unprecedented rate.
Stakeholders across the countries belive the continent neeeds a common legal framework to tackle the growing menance.
A study by WeProtect Global Alliance shows an increase in grooming; the production, viewing and sharing of sexual abuse material; and live streaming for payment across the continnet.
To counter this threat, chief executive officers of the Film and Publication Board (FPB) of SA, Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) and National Film and Video Censors Board of Nigeria are already in discussion to formulate a common content regulation mechanisms on the continent.
The project is being spearheaded by the FPB, which will later this year host officials from Eswatini Communications Commission and KFCB for training and benchmarking.
“For society to derive the highest good from the opportunities the digital space provides, it is essential that the negative aspects are mitigated through content regulation,” said FPB acting CEO, Dr Mashilo Boloka.
