After months of friction over social media regulation, Gabon and TikTok have shifted gears toward constructive dialogue. During the AI for Good / WSIS Global Summit held in Geneva from July 7 to 11, the Gabonese Minister of Digital Economy, Digitalization, and Innovation, Mark-Alexandre Doumba, engaged in discussions with the platform’s regional leadership to assess TikTok’s compliance with Gabon’s updated digital regulations.
This meeting follows a period of tightened oversight for digital platforms in Gabon, with a sharp focus on social media governance, user protection—especially for minors—and strict adherence to local laws. TikTok’s delegation, led by Emir Gelen, Regional Director for Government Relations in the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa (MEA), and Maria Cohn, Deputy Director of Government Relations, presented a comprehensive report on their moderation efforts for the first quarter of 2026.
According to the platform’s data, 23,504 sensitive posts were removed during this timeframe, including:
- 13,930 pieces of content that endangered the safety or well-being of minors, such as exploitative or harmful material.
- 10,784 posts promoting regulated goods, services, or activities.
The majority of removals targeted sexually explicit content and cases of physical or sexual abuse involving children. TikTok also highlighted significant improvements in its moderation infrastructure, boasting that 99.8% of violating content was detected and removed before users could report it—including 92.9% before any views were recorded. Additionally, 97.2% of flagged material was taken down within 48 hours, and 4,352 accounts were permanently banned during the quarter.
Following the talks, Gabonese authorities and TikTok agreed to extend their partnership for another 12 months, aligning with the compliance period outlined in the national ordinance regulating social media in Gabon. Minister Doumba emphasized the need to balance digital innovation with robust citizen protection, stressing the government’s commitment to combating misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, and other threats to young users’ mental health.
This collaboration underscores Gabon’s determination to enforce its digital laws while fostering a safer, more accountable online environment for its citizens. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to hold major tech platforms to account while supporting responsible digital growth.
