This is at the core of a full-day workshop which kicked off this morning in Ebene in presence of the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie; the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Dr Avinash Ramtohul; several Ministers, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries. Meta’s Director of Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mrs Balkissa Ide Siddo, participated via videoconference.

A Meta delegation is in Mauritius on 6 and 7 October 2026 at the initiative of the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation for a series of working sessions with governmental institutions and other stakeholders. Meta representatives, Mrs Sylvia Musalagani and Mr Thabo Makenete, are facilitating discussions and sharing their expertise on the various issues.

The workshop brings together representatives of Government institutions and Meta to explore practical measures to tackle a range of online challenges, including content moderation, child online safety, misinformation and disinformation, impersonation, as well as the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence-generated content and deepfakes.

In her keynote address, Acting Prime Minister Navarre-Marie described the workshop as the beginning of a stronger working relationship between the Government and Meta. She called for enhanced cooperation, including clear escalation procedures, effective reporting channels and timely intervention when harmful content is identified.

She also stressed the need for content moderation systems to better recognise abusive material in local languages and language varieties.

Mrs Navarre-Marie recalled that online violence is increasingly becoming a societal challenge, with consequences extending beyond individual victims to families and the wider community.

She referred to figures published by the Mauritius Digital Promotion Agency, based on data from the Information and Communication Technologies Authority and CERT-MU, showing that reported security incidents increased from 5,221 in 2024 to 6,073 in 2025.

Over the same period, reported cases of online harassment rose from 1,324 to 1,636, while cybercrime cases increased from 491 to 702. Reported incidents of sextortion also climbed from 178 to 223.

The Acting Prime Minister noted that behind every reported incident is an individual whose privacy may have been violated, whose reputation damaged, whose security threatened or whose peace of mind seriously affected.

Digital platforms, therefore she mentioned should remain spaces for opportunity and connection rather than environments where abuse, intimidation and exploitation can take place.

She further underlined that child online safety must remain a priority, with technology companies expected to play an active role in designing safer services, identifying potential risks and responding promptly when children are exposed to harm.

“We have a responsibility to act collectively, decisively and with a clear sense of urgency. Let us build a digital environment that serves the people, protects children, empowers women and upholds the dignity of every citizen,” she stated.

For his part, Minister Ramtohul highlighted the extensive reach of Meta platforms in Mauritius. He noted that internet penetration stands at approximately 82.5 per cent, while around 85 per cent of the population uses Meta products.

He called for responsible use of digital platforms while emphasising the importance of balancing freedom of expression with respect for privacy, dignity and the rights of others.

Dr Ramtohul pointed out that discussions with Meta will seek to establish clearer protocols for reporting harmful content and processing takedown requests, including stronger cooperation with the Police, CERT-MU and other law-enforcement agencies.

He underscored the growing challenge posed by AI-generated content, including manipulated images and deepfakes. He also spoke of reviewing existing cybercrime legislative framework while considering emerging legal and regulatory issues linked to AI.

Addressing participants virtually, Mrs Siddo reaffirmed Meta’s commitment to transparency and follow-up and expressed the company’s intention to establish a long-term partnership with Mauritius while providing practical solutions.

Date: 07 October 2026

Source: GIS News

Topics: Information Technology