In 2020, India took a decisive step that reshaped global digital governance when it banned TikTok and more than 250 other foreign apps, citing national-security threats, data-harvesting risks, and evidence that some platforms were being used to coordinate unrest. What many dismissed as an extreme measure is now understood as a strategic response to the growing power of digital platforms. Social media is no longer just a communication tool; it has become a national-security domain.
India was not alone. The United States has repeatedly moved to restrict or potentially ban TikTok over national-security concerns. Nigeria suspended Twitter after regulatory disputes. Turkey compelled major platforms to register locally and comply with its content-moderation rules.
Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Brazil have all implemented temporary bans or strict controls when platforms were used for extremism, political manipulation, or organized crime. These actions highlight a global truth: unregulated digital platforms can destabilize nations as effectively as physical threats. They amplify misinformation, enable criminal networks, and allow extremist groups to coordinate and influence public sentiment with unprecedented speed.
As African societies become more digitally connected, they inherit the same vulnerabilities—often without the legal or technical safeguards other regions have developed. Social-media platforms are increasingly used to mobilize violent protests, spread disinformation during elections, recruit extremist groups, coordinate cross-border crime, and execute complex financial scams. While digital transformation brings opportunity, it also opens the door to new forms of insecurity that can escalate quickly if left unmanaged.
This reality demands a serious review of how digital platforms operate on the continent. Regulation is not about suppressing free expression; it is about establishing digital sovereignty and ensuring that foreign companies respect national laws. Every country has the right under international law to regulate digital platforms within its borders, including Meta, TikTok, X, and others.
African governments must update outdated legal frameworks, require compliance with national safety and content regulations, demand transparency on data practices, and act decisively when platforms facilitate violence or criminal activity. India did this. The United States continues to do it. Turkey, Nigeria, France, and many others enforce strict rules to protect their citizens. Africa cannot afford to be the only region operating purely on trust while foreign platforms shape its political, social, and security environment.
The digital world is now a frontline of national stability. For African nations, the path is clear: take control of the digital space or risk having it manipulated by actors whose priorities lie far beyond the continent’s interests. Social media must strengthen society, not destabilize it, and reviewing how these platforms operate is no longer optional—it is a strategic necessity.