This year’s theme, “Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI”, shines a spotlight on the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into daily digital life.
From generative tools and chatbots to automated decision-making systems, AI offers immense potential for innovation, education, advocacy, and social justice. On the other hand, it also introduces new risks: privacy invasion, misinformation amplification, biased algorithms, deepfakes, and increased surveillance threats.
TFGBV-A Growing Concern
Among prevailing internet threats, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) stands out as a rapidly escalating issue. TFGBV involves acts such as online harassment, sextortion, doxxing, cyberstalking, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, often amplified by AI tools such as deepfakes.
In Kenya and neighboring countries, reports indicate a surge in such violence, with up to 67% of surveyed individuals experiencing at least one form of digital abuse.
At the Tatua Digital Resilience Centre, we see these dual realities every day as we support social justice organisations across East Africa. Civil society groups increasingly rely on digital tools including AI-assisted research, content creation, and community engagement to advance human rights, democratic processes, and equity. However, without deliberate safeguards, these technologies can expose organisations, activists, and the communities they serve to digital threats.
Key concerns in our region include:
- AI-driven disinformation campaigns that undermine electoral integrity and public trust.
- Surveillance tools powered by smart tech that disproportionately target marginalised voices.
- Data privacy gaps in AI systems that collect vast amounts of personal information without adequate consent or protection.
- Cyber hygiene lapses that leave devices and communications vulnerable.
- TFGBV escalation, where online abuse spills into offline harm, including femicide, with cases in Kenya often originating from digital spaces.
Our ongoing work through cyber hygiene capacity building, digital resilience assessments, incident response support, and advocacy on emerging issues like AI governance – equips SJOs to harness technology while mitigating harms. We emphasize practical steps: strong authentication, regular security audits, privacy-by-design approaches, and critical evaluation of AI outputs.
As we mark Safer Internet Day, we call upon all stakeholders including social justice actors, policymakers, tech platforms, educators, and everyday users to commit to responsible innovation. Let’s build digital spaces that are inclusive, secure, and rights-respecting.
For support with digital resilience assessments, cyber hygiene training, or policy development, reach out to us at info@tatua.digital or +254 110 730 730. Watch our Cyber Hygiene series on YouTube or Digital Security Resources for accessible tips. A safer internet is possible when we build it collectively.
#SaferInternetDay2026 #SmartTechSafeChoices #DigitalResilience
