Over time, social media platforms, which have greatly contributed to freedom of expression worldwide, have increasingly become a source of misuse and abuse. While many governments are considering regulating these platforms, finding the right balance between preserving liberty and restricting harmful content remains a subject of intense debate.

Despite a global surge in government requests to Meta for user data from Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Africa stands out as the region with the fewest requests in 2024. This stark disparity highlights the digital and regulatory divides across the continent.

Government requests for user data by country, second half of 2024

Source : Meta

According to Meta's latest 2024 Transparency Report on government user data requests, Africa has by far the lowest volume of queries. While the United States, Europe, and India submit tens of thousands of requests each half-year, requests from African nations are often in the dozens, rarely reaching the hundreds. Morocco is a notable exception with 1,188 data requests in 2024, followed by Tunisia (121), Libya (68), Algeria (54), Ghana (38), South Africa (36), and Kenya (35). However, outside of these few countries, the rest of the continent is almost entirely absent from the data. For comparison, the United States alone submitted over 150,000 requests in 2024.

Disclosed Information

Governments' requests typically target accounts with content they deem dangerous. Meta notes that government officials sometimes request user data from Facebook as part of official investigations. The vast majority of these requests involve criminal cases, such as thefts or kidnappings. In many cases, these requests seek basic subscriber information, such as their name, date of registration, and account age. Other requests may also seek IP address logs or account content.

Meta also states : “In emergencies, law enforcement may submit requests without legal process. Based on the circumstances, we may voluntarily disclose information to law enforcement where we have a good faith reason to believe that the matter involves imminent risk of serious physical injury or death."

A Low Volume of Requests

The near-total absence of requests from most of the continent, despite widespread Facebook use, raises questions about the institutional capacity of African governments. Many may lack the technical and legal resources needed to formulate formal requests that Meta can act on. Additionally, many countries have yet to establish clear digital regulations or standardized data request procedures. Unlike in Europe or the U.S., where digital evidence is routinely used in criminal investigations, this practice is still marginal in Africa.

Sovereignty and trust issues also play a role. Some governments may prefer to use other methods, such as local surveillance or restricting services via telecommunications operators, rather than directly soliciting data from Meta.

Multiple Stakes

The low volume of African requests to Meta does not indicate a lack of surveillance, but it does highlight a gap between the growing influence of social media and states' capacity to regulate its use. This is particularly concerning as platforms become breeding grounds for a wide range of illicit activities, including prostitution, cyber-harassment, hate speech, misinformation, and propaganda.

From a legal standpoint, this situation may reflect the slow adaptation of African judicial systems to the digital age. In terms of security, it could hinder investigations into cybercrime and digital terrorism. This is why some countries have created specialized bodies, such as Côte d’Ivoire's Platform Against Cybercrime (PLCC), founded in 2011 to combat cybercrime through investigations, public awareness, and victim support. Similarly, Burkina Faso established the Central Brigade for the Fight Against Cybercrime (BCLCC) in 2020 under its Ministry of Security.