The Department of Basic Education (DBE), joined by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) and the Information Regulator (IR) are calling for a plan of action against the infringement of data privacy of young people in cyberspace. Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, together with the DWYPD Deputy Minister, Ms Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, and the Chairperson of the IR, Adv Pansy Tlakula, pledged to intensify the promotion of data privacy amongst young people in the fight against cybercrime. The pledge was made during the High-Level Dialogue on the Promotion and the Protection of Children's Privacy Rights Online, which took place at Radisson RED Hotel in Rosebank, Gauteng on 28 January 2025. The Dialogue coincided with the commemoration of International Data Privacy Day.
During the engagement, young people urged Government to put measures in place to keep cyberspace safe for children, saying that digital education must remain accessible to amplify effective learning and teaching in schools. Deputy Minister Letsike indicated that the Dialogue should be sustained to garner support from the global community. “As we take this dialogue forward, our interventions must be rooted in international cooperation, as the content we access online, the people we meet on social media and even the platforms we use often originate from all corners of the globe.”
Adv Tlakula raised a concern about the low level of awareness regarding the right to privacy and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA): “Since 2022, the IR, working with partners such as the Human Sciences Research Council, has conducted public option surveys to test the levels of awareness about the right to privacy and POPIA. In all four instalments of these studies, young people between the age of 18 and 24 consistently show low levels of awareness. As South Africa’s Data Protection Authority (DPA), the IR may consider issuing guidelines for developers and operators of digital platforms to build into their standard operating procedures for child rights where the personal information of children is processed. We may also require digital platforms to invest in better techniques for determining whether a child has reached the age of consent for data collection and processing”.
Minister Gwarube said that, “as children navigate through digital platforms, they are exposed to a multitude of risks, including invasive data tracking, exposure to harmful content and predatory behaviour. Whilst the conversation on children’s rights online often centres on privacy and misinformation, the exploitation of children through online child pornography and sexual abuse material should be given urgent attention. A collaborative and multi-sectoral approval is required to deal decisively with cybercrimes targeting children. Government must work with regulatory bodies such as the IR to ensure that tech companies comply with data protection laws and ethical guidelines to protect children’s personal information. We must develop stricter content moderation policies and enforce accountability measures for online platforms. Digital Literacy and education should become a core part of curriculum for parents and children to be equipped with the necessary knowledge on online safety and data privacy. Tech companies should be active partners in safeguarding children by prioritising ethical AI development, enhancing transparency and investing in child protection initiatives. South Africa should review and strengthen legislation that governs the collection, storage and processing of minors’ data, ensuring that their rights are upheld. We need to create digital ecosystems that are safe, inclusive and empowering, whilst encouraging children to participate in the digital economy in cybercrime free environments,” concluded Minister Gwarube.