Abidjan: RIARC and REFRAM signed a declaration on strengthening dialogue with global digital platforms

Friday, April 26, 2024 at 5:34 p.m

Abidjan – The Network of African Regulatory Authorities for Communications (RIARC) and the Network of French-Language Media Regulators (REFRAM) signed a declaration on Wednesday in Abidjan to strengthen dialogue with global digital platforms.

Signed by Ms. Latifa Akharbach, President of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communications (HACA) and current President of RIARC, and Mr. Roch Olivier Maistre, President of the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communications in France (ARCOM) and current President of the French-speaking Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM), at the end of the International Conference on Digital Regulation organized by the High Authority for Audiovisual Communications of Côte d’Ivoire on April 23 and 24, this declaration specifically confirms the commitment of the regulators who are members of the two networks to conduct a constructive dialogue with online platforms in order to contribute to the development of a digital space that respects democracy and human rights, promoting cultural and linguistic diversity.

The signatories also call on platforms to implement content moderation policies and tools adapted to national and regional contexts, while encouraging them to use algorithmic recommendation systems that promote a diversity of information sources.

Thus, certain digital platforms (Tiktok, Meta) agreed to sign a protocol on obligations to strengthen cooperation and dialogue with media regulatory bodies on the African continent and in the French-speaking area.

These obligations refer, among other things, to the determination of a single point of contact for public authorities and to the implementation of adequate transparency measures through, in particular, the publication of an annual report covering all moderation measures decided by these platforms.

At the end of the work of this conference, which brought together regulators from 24 countries in Europe and Africa, representatives of global digital platforms, Meta, Google, Tiktok and X (formerly Twitter), as well as international organizations such as OIF and UNESCO, presidents of RIARC and REFRAM and the members of the two networks were received in the audience by the Vice President of the Republic of Ivory Coast, Mr. Tiemoko Meylet Koné.