Gabon and TikTok Deepen Cooperation on Digital Platform Governance Following High-Level WSIS 2026 Talks
The Government of Gabon has continued its engagement with TikTok on digital platform governance, holding high-level discussions during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting, led by Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy, Digitalisation and Innovation, Mark Alexandre Doumba, brought together senior TikTok executives responsible for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Central Asia (MEA) region to review progress made in strengthening platform governance and regulatory compliance.
The discussions focused on the measures implemented since earlier engagements following the suspension of digital platforms in February 2026 and explored pathways for continued cooperation within Gabon’s evolving legal and regulatory framework.
Strengthening Digital Governance
As governments around the world continue to develop regulations for digital platforms, Gabon is positioning itself to strengthen oversight while encouraging responsible digital innovation.
During the meeting, both parties reviewed the progress made in content moderation, regulatory engagement and platform accountability, reflecting a shared commitment to improving online safety and digital governance.
The discussions form part of Gabon’s broader strategy to establish a digital ecosystem that protects users while ensuring technology platforms operate within nationally approved legal frameworks.
TikTok Highlights Content Moderation Progress
As part of the engagement, TikTok presented its content moderation results for the first quarter of 2026, outlining actions taken to enforce its Community Guidelines and improve user safety.
According to the platform, 23,504 accounts linked to sexual content were removed during the reporting period.
An additional 13,930 accounts were removed for violent content and activities considered harmful to the safety and well-being of minors.
TikTok also removed 10,784 accounts associated with goods, services and regulated activities that violated platform policies.
Among all enforcement categories, child safety remained a key priority.
The platform reported removing 17,225 accounts related to child sexual abuse material and 12,883 accounts involving the sexual exploitation of minors, reflecting continued investment in automated detection technologies and content moderation systems.
Improving Enforcement Efficiency
TikTok also shared performance indicators highlighting improvements in the speed and effectiveness of its moderation processes.
According to the company, 99.8% of content found to violate platform policies was removed before being reported by users.
In addition, 92.9% of violating content received no views before removal, reducing user exposure to harmful material.
The company further reported that 97.2% of violating content was removed within 24 hours, while 99.8% was taken down within 48 hours.
These figures demonstrate TikTok’s continued efforts to strengthen proactive content detection through artificial intelligence and human moderation.
Supporting Compliance in Gabon
The Gabonese government noted that, following the country’s ratification of the ordinance governing social media regulation, both parties agreed to continue working together over the next 12 months to ensure TikTok complies with the country’s updated regulatory requirements.
The continued collaboration is expected to support the implementation of responsible digital governance while strengthening communication between regulators and technology platforms.
By maintaining ongoing dialogue, Gabon aims to ensure that digital platforms operate in accordance with national legislation while contributing positively to the country’s digital economy.
Protecting Citizens Online
The discussions also reaffirmed Gabon’s commitment to addressing the growing social challenges associated with digital platforms.
Government officials highlighted concerns surrounding misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech and other forms of harmful online content that can negatively impact individuals and communities.
Mental health protection was also identified as a key priority, with authorities emphasising the importance of creating safer online environments, particularly for children and young people.
As digital platforms continue to play a larger role in everyday life, governments and technology companies are increasingly collaborating to balance innovation, freedom of expression and user safety.
The ongoing partnership between Gabon and TikTok reflects this shared objective, supporting stronger digital governance, improved regulatory compliance and greater accountability in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
