https://en.sputniknews.africa/20261012/double-edged-screen-how-social-media-is-reshaping-africas-security-landscape-1089899325.html
Double-Edged Screen: How Social Media is Reshaping Africa's Security Landscape
Double-Edged Screen: How Social Media is Reshaping Africa's Security Landscape
Sputnik Africa
Africa's digital landscape is currently undergoing a massive transformation, driven by a population of over 600 million internet users, a thriving creator... 12.10.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-10-12T15:11+0200
2026-10-12T15:11+0200
2026-10-12T15:11+0200
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The Double-Edged Screen: How Social Media Is Reshaping Africa's Security Landscape
Sputnik Africa
Africa's digital landscape is currently undergoing a massive transformation, driven by a population of over 600 million internet users, a thriving creator economy, and accelerating investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and data infrastructure.
A digital ecosystem expansion, cybersecurity and policy experts say, has emerged as a critical new frontier for national security.It is a transformation that has been described as Africa's digital rebellion—a moment when African creators, journalists, and storytellers are bypassing Western gatekeepers to reclaim the continent's narrative.However, Dr. Chris Mitchell Osazuwa, an associate professor of Intelligence and Security Studies at City University, Cambodia, warns on this episode of the Redrawn Africa podcast that the same tools enabling African creators to bypass Western social media platforms are also being weaponized by external actors seeking to destabilize the continent.Dr. Osazuwa insists that as foreign and domestic actors increasingly leverage these digital networks, African defense and intelligence agencies will constantly face an urgent challenge of securing Africa's critical data infrastructure while also protecting its democratic institutions from digital subversion.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, and Overcast.► Check out all the episodes of Redrawn Africa Podcast
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africa, artificial intelligence (ai), digital technology , social media, cyberattack, cybercrime, russia-africa cooperation, west africa, south africa, global south, north africa, east africa, central africa, southern africa, аудио
africa, artificial intelligence (ai), digital technology , social media, cyberattack, cybercrime, russia-africa cooperation, west africa, south africa, global south, north africa, east africa, central africa, southern africa, аудио
Double-Edged Screen: How Social Media is Reshaping Africa's Security Landscape
Africa's digital landscape is currently undergoing a massive transformation, driven by a population of over 600 million internet users, a thriving creator economy, and accelerating investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and data infrastructure.
A digital ecosystem expansion, cybersecurity and policy experts say, has emerged as a critical new frontier for national security.
It is a transformation that has been described as Africa's digital rebellion—a moment when African creators, journalists, and storytellers are bypassing Western gatekeepers to reclaim the continent's narrative.
However, Dr. Chris Mitchell Osazuwa, an associate professor of Intelligence and Security Studies at City University, Cambodia, warns on this episode of the Redrawn Africa podcast that the same tools enabling African creators to bypass Western social media platforms are also being weaponized by external actors seeking to destabilize the continent.
Dr. Osazuwa insists that as foreign and domestic actors increasingly leverage these digital networks, African defense and intelligence agencies will constantly face an urgent challenge of securing Africa's critical data infrastructure while also protecting its democratic institutions from digital subversion.
"There is an arm of intelligence we call open-source intelligence, and also we have social media intelligence. Most of these foreigners have betrayed our system. They come into the continent in the guise of trying to help our people get some technology but indirectly gathering intelligence. "Yes, this is being done, and this goes back to the same point from the beginning if we have our technology. If you have our system, we can do so much with it, including controlling our own narratives," Dr. Osazuwa said.
► Check out all the episodes of Redrawn Africa Podcast 
