"Africa must have an important role in the governance of global digital platforms," she said in a speech at the opening of the International Conference on Digital Platform Governance, held by Unesco and Croatia's Electronic Media Agency, to mark the International Day against Hate Speech.

Ms. Akharbach, who was also speaking in her capacity as President of the African Communication Regulation Authorities Network (ACRAN), made the case for Africa's essential contribution to the establishment of a universal framework for the regulation of digital platforms, based on a global consensus that respects diversity. 

"As the world's youngest continent, with 65% of its population under the age of 35, Africa must, in the digital domain, be both able to access progress and protect itself against disruptions," she pointed out.

The situation is urgent as the lack of governance of the actions of big tech giants is already affecting the continent in many ways, Ms. Akharbach pointed out. Africa is already having to deal with the "brain drain" and the "data drain" in the context of the ultra-fast development of technology and the insufficiently regulated uses of artificial intelligence (AI), she observed.

While expressing her support for Unesco initiative to create a Global Forum of Regulators, the HACA chief called for best practices dedicated to tailoring the governance of giant platforms to the challenges of technological, cultural, and media sovereignty in Africa. 

In this regard, she mentioned the recent agreement signed between Morocco, UNESCO, and the AI Movement Center of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University to set up a center of excellence in the fields of AI and data science, with a focus on Africa's needs in terms of ethical issues, data management, impact on employment, and transparency.

Several senior Unesco officials, Croatia's ministers of Culture and Justice, representatives of the EU, as well as regulators from 70 countries on five continents attended the opening ceremony.

Held under the theme "Building a Global Network Forum," the two-day conference aims to rally international networks of audiovisual media, electronic media, online regulators, and digital platform representatives against the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech, discrimination, and xenophobia online. 

The highlight of the event is the launch of the Global Forum of Networks of Regulators, bringing together regulatory authorities to establish a global, collaborative space for discussions and the exchange of best practices in the regulation of digital platforms.