Following World Data Protection Day, Facebook partnered with Benin's Personal Data Protection Authority (APDP) for an information and awareness day on the topic of privacy and personal data. This event was held on the morning of Monday, February 3, 2020, in Cotonou.
In order to promote innovation and restore digital trust, Facebook initiated and participated in a day of discussions on the theme: "Personal data in the digital age and privacy on social networks." The symposium was attended by the President of the APDP of Benin, Etienne FIFATIN, Serge ADJOVI, Director of the Agency for Digital Development, and Aïda NDIAYE, Facebook's Public Affairs Manager for French-speaking Africa.
The event helped to raise public awareness of their rights and inform them about the tools available to defend them. Ouanilo MEDEGAN, Director General of the National Information Systems Security Agency (ANSSI), Maurice THANTAN, Journalist at ORTB, and Wenceslas Mahoussi, Deputy Director of the National School of Information Science and Technology (ENSTIC), as well as various actors from civil society and the private sector, agreed to share their expertise on privacy issues on the African continent in the digital age.
It is important for us to educate people about our tools and solutions. This event was an opportunity for us to explain how Facebook protects its users' data through the development of artificial intelligence, among other things. We are delighted to be able to develop partnerships with credible local players such as the APDP and hope that together we can contribute to the creation of a safe digital space in Africa," concluded Aïda Ndiaye.