Can Kiswahili online content be moderated?

It appears that 2025 will see a significant shift in content moderation practices, as Meta plans to eliminate independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram.  This change may suggest a decline in standards, particularly in regions that have historically experienced limited online moderation. In many parts of Africa, small content teams have been tasked with overseeing entire countries or regions. Interestingly, while there are numerous content moderators in Africa, they are primarily employed as outsourced workers to assist with content moderation for major platforms based in the United States. These jobs are often mis-advertised too – with no warning

about the harmful content moderators will be forced to watch.  A report by the Center for Democracy and Technology “Moderating Kiswahili content on Social Media” has looked at why it’s so difficult to moderate posts in Kiswahili.

The Strettons Podcast

The Strettons podcast proudly claims the title of the United Kingdom's inaugural dedicated village podcast. This initiative targets a collection of small villages located in the picturesque rural county of Shropshire, just next to Wales. While it may seem like yet another addition to the podcasting landscape—perhaps one you have already encountered and subscribed to—there is an intriguing technological narrative behind it, as shared by the presenters and producers, Sian Lovegrove and Pete Johnson who are on the show.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Wairimu Gitahi.

More on this week's stories:

Moderating Kiswahili content on Social Meda

More than 140 Kenya Facebook moderators diagnosed with severe PTSD

The Strettons Podcast

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Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

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