Chanell Daniels, Digital Catapult
Aderinsola Aribaba, HubSpot
Emilar Gandhi, Meta
Thandi Nyati
In an era where social media transcends borders, the imposition of global content policies without consideration for specific regional contexts poses significant challenges. Africa, with its rich tapestry of over 3000 languages and diverse cultural landscapes, exemplifies this complexity. From liberal to conservative societies shaped by religious practices, navigating the nuances of content moderation becomes paramount. This panel seeks to illuminate the gap in policy development for regions divergent from global community standards. Should exceptions be made, or should tailored policies be drafted? Delving into specific issues such as nudity, sexual orientation, hate speech, and misinformation, we aim to identify key considerations in crafting policies that resonate with Africa's diverse societies. As an illustrative example, the case of Google's restrictions on adult nudity content in Southern Africa, contrasting it with cultural practices that permit nudity during certain festivals in the region. This discussion aims to elucidate the alignment, or lack thereof, between global content policies and regional cultural norms, and to propose recommendations for policy harmonization or contextual exceptions where appropriate. Furthermore, recognizing parallels in cultural sensitivities, this discussion will extend its focus to include insights from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, offering a comparative lens to address shared challenges. This panel seeks to contribute essential insights to the ongoing discourse on the intersection of digital rights, cultural diversity, and effective content moderation strategies, fostering a path towards contextually sensitive and globally relevant policy frameworks
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