TikTok has announced an additional $200,000 investment in AI media literacy initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa at the 3rd Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Safer Internet Summit, currently taking place in Nairobi.
The two-day summit has brought together government officials, regulators, online safety partners and industry leaders under the theme #SaferTogether: Innovation and Safety, highlighting the growing importance of collaborative approaches to digital safety across the region.
The Nairobi gathering marks the third edition of the regional summit series, which began in Ghana in 2024 and continued in Cape Town, South Africa in 2025.
The initiative aims to deepen partnerships between technology platforms, policymakers and regulators as digital safety challenges evolve alongside rapid technological innovation.
Tokunbo Ibrahim, Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, said the summit provides a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and develop solutions to protect users online.
“As we host the third Annual Safer Internet Summit here in Kenya, our mission is clear: to share learnings, insights, tackle common challenges and collaboratively advance actionable solutions that protect citizens online,” Ibrahim said. “By bringing together a diverse coalition of policymakers, tech innovators and creators, we ensure the conversations at this summit are inclusive and help strengthen the digital landscape.”
Expanding AI Literacy Across Africa
The newly announced $200,000 investment will support organisations working to improve public understanding of artificial intelligence and its impact on online information ecosystems.
The funding builds on TikTok’s earlier $2 million AI Literacy Fund launched in November 2025 to support global nonprofit initiatives focused on increasing awareness and responsible use of AI technologies.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the programme has already partnered with several organisations including:
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Mtoto News in Kenya, which produces youth-focused digital content designed to help young audiences understand and responsibly interact with AI technologies.
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Africa Check, which is expanding fact-checking efforts across Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya to equip audiences with tools to identify AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes.
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Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), whose independent fact-checking platform DUBAWA works to combat misinformation and strengthen credible public discourse.
Valiant Richey, Global Head of Partnerships, Elections and Market Integrity at TikTok, said partnerships with trusted local organisations are essential in building effective AI literacy programmes.
“With the rapid advancement of AI, we are committed to educating our community online so they feel empowered to have responsible experiences with AI, whether that’s as viewers or creators,” Richey said. “We are partnering with trusted local organisations that communities already know and rely on, because their expertise and deep local connections are essential to making AI literacy programmes truly impactful.”
Focus on Safety, AI Governance and Transparency
The summit has also featured discussions on online safety, youth protection, and policy frameworks for responsible artificial intelligence governance.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, who opened the summit, emphasized the need for collaboration between governments and technology companies.
“This gathering reflects our government’s commitment to collaboration, sector growth and ensuring a safe digital space for all,” Kabogo said. “As we embrace the opportunities of the digital era, we must protect our people by advancing digital innovation, responsible AI governance and strong regional partnerships.”
TikTok also highlighted its use of AI-powered tools to enhance content moderation and transparency across the platform. With more than 100 million pieces of content uploaded daily, automated systems work alongside human moderation teams to detect and remove harmful content more quickly.
According to the platform’s latest Community Guidelines Enforcement report for the third quarter of 2025, TikTok removed more than 14 million videos across Sub-Saharan Africa, with 96.7 percent detected and removed proactively using automated technologies.
The summit is expected to conclude with renewed commitments among stakeholders to strengthen digital safety initiatives and policy cooperation across Sub-Saharan Africa.