Organized by the National Council for Audiovisual Regulation of Senegal, as part of its presidency of the Francophone Network of Media Regulators, the event also brought together members of the Network of African Communication Regulation Authorities.
It falls within the framework of the implementation of the Abidjan Declaration of April 2024, dedicated to strengthening dialogue between regulators and online platforms in the African and Francophone space.
This first meeting of the Forum focused on two major issues: combating disinformation and foreign interference in electoral processes, and protecting minors in the digital space. A masterclass on the theme of regulator-platform dialogue in times of crisis was also organized by the International Organisation of La Francophonie, which supports the event.
During her participation in the Forum’s debates, HACA President Latifa Akharbach highlighted the growing dominance of digital platforms in the information market and in the globalized public sphere, stressing that this hegemony increases informational risks and undermines the quality of democratic debate.
Ms. Akharbach recalled that these profit-driven private companies effectively control public expression through opaque algorithms that determine the visibility, removal or amplification of content.
She also warned about the threats to pluralism and diversity, not only during election periods but throughout democratic life, as well as the dangers linked to micro-targeted political advertising, which has become a particularly harmful tool of influence.
Many representatives of regulatory authorities from the Francophone and African networks, along with representatives of digital platforms and digital technology experts, took part in this conference dedicated to establishing a structured dialogue between regulators and platforms, with the aim of strengthening the informational rights of media users in the Francophone and African space.
The HACA delegation that took part in the Dakar Conference also included Adil Benhamza, member of the Higher Council for Audiovisual Communication, and Talal Salahdine, Manager of African and International Affairs of the Moroccan authority.
Editorial team/le7tv