Gabon has shifted from confrontation to collaboration in regulating social media platforms. In a significant move underscoring the country’s commitment to digital governance, the Minister of Digital Economy, Mark-Alexandre Doumba, recently engaged in high-level discussions with TikTok’s regional leadership on the sidelines of the AI for Good / WSIS Summit in Geneva.
The meeting, held from July 7 to 11, centered on TikTok’s compliance with Gabon’s newly enforced social media regulations. Key topics included safeguarding user data, protecting minors from harmful content, and aligning the platform’s policies with national legislation. TikTok’s delegation, led by Emir Gelen, Regional Director for Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa (MEA) Government Relations, and Maria Cohn, Deputy Director of Government Relations, presented a comprehensive update on their moderation efforts for the first quarter of 2026.
According to TikTok’s transparency report, the platform removed 23,504 sensitive posts during this period. Among these, 13,930 contained threats to minors’ safety and well-being, while 10,784 promoted illegal goods, services, or activities. The majority of deletions targeted sexually explicit content and material involving physical or sexual abuse of children.
TikTok highlighted its enhanced moderation tools, claiming 99.8% of violating content was removed proactively—before any user reports—with 92.9% identified before any views. The platform also reported that 97.2% of flagged content was taken down within 48 hours, and 4,352 accounts were permanently banned during this timeframe.
Following the productive exchange, Gabon and TikTok agreed to extend their partnership for another year, aligning with the compliance period outlined in the country’s Ordinance on Social Media Regulation. The Minister emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with citizen protection, particularly in combating misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, and other threats to mental health among Gabon’s youth.
This dialogue marks a pivotal step toward fostering a safer, more responsible digital ecosystem in Gabon. By enforcing national laws while fostering collaboration with global platforms, the government demonstrates its dedication to creating a secure online environment for all users.