Background of the approval 

A meeting of Somalia’s Council of Ministers, chaired by President H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and attended by Prime Minister H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre, has approved the Regulatory Framework for the Public Data Protection Law by majority vote. The decision followed in-depth deliberations on the urgent need for a robust legal regime to safeguard citizens’ data and promote transparent governance of data-related services. Drafted by the Ministry of Communications and Technology, the framework has undergone all required constitutional, legal, and technical procedures under national law. 

Strategic significance and provisions 
The regulation carries strategic importance in strengthening, organizing, and advancing Somalia’s national system for public data protection. It introduces essential provisions for the effective implementation of the Public Data Protection Law, aligning the country’s legal framework with its ongoing digital transformation agenda. This move addresses gaps in data security and governance amid efforts to modernize public services. 

Minister’s emphasis on digital trust 

Minister of Communications and Technology H.E. Mohamed Somali expressed appreciation to the President, Prime Minister, and Council for their commitment to legal frameworks supporting digital government, data security, and citizens’ rights. He stressed that the approval marks a critical step toward building public trust in government digital services, especially as the Federal Government expands access to secure, citizen-centered solutions. 

Source: TechAfricaNews 

 News of the week:

1) EU Takes on Meta Over AI Access and Fair Competition 

The European Commission has formally charged Meta Platforms Inc. with abusing its dominant position in the AI and messaging space by blocking rival access to key WhatsApp interfaces. This regulatory action shows the increasing scrutiny of how big tech companies manage access to data and AI tools, and could reshape competition among AI developers and platform providers globally. 

The charges come from the allegations that Meta restricted access to WhatsApp’s Business API for third-party AI services and chatbots, reserving that access for Meta’s own AI assistant and excluding competitors. The European Commission believes this limits fair competition and could lead to “serious and irreparable harm” to rival AI innovators seeking to connect with consumers via messaging platforms. The Commission is also considering interim measures to ensure rivals can continue to access WhatsApp’s technology while the case proceeds. 

This action draws on the EU’s existing competition laws and regulatory powers under the Digital Services Act, which empowers authorities to intervene when platforms misuse their dominant positions. It marks another example of the EU’s willingness to challenge large digital platforms on fairness and market access, following earlier probes into AI training data usage, antitrust penalties on search advertising monopolies, and investigations into data practices.  

The Meta case is important for India and other jurisdictions facing their own AI competition and data access questions. As countries make regulations to balance innovation with consumer protection and fair competition, actions like these provide a reference point for what good enforcement looks like in practice. The legal and commercial implications are as follows: 

• The charges may force Meta to alter how it shares APIs and platform interfaces with non-Meta AI services. 

  
  

• An interim order could set a precedent requiring platforms to keep AI access points open to competitors during regulatory investigations. 

  
  

• The case highlights how competition authorities are adapting traditional competition law to address new digital and AI-centric business models. 

The case is likely to be contested vigorously. Meta has argued that restricting access is part of ensuring security and user safety, common defenses in platform regulation disputes. Regardless of the outcome, this EU action underlines how competition law, data access rights, and AI regulation are converging in ways that will influence tech policy globally throughout 2026 and beyond. 

Source: Reuters 

2) Social Media Age Limits Expand in Australia and Europe  

Several countries across Asia-Pacific and Europe have moved to tighten restrictions on children’s access to mainstream social media platforms, focusing on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Under the new rules, Australia became the first nation to ban social media use among children under 16 without parental consent. This ban affects major platforms and is designed to address growing concerns about the mental health and safety impacts of social networking on young users. 

The policy has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters argue it protects children from addictive design features and harmful content, while critics question enforceability and the potential for young users to find ways around the age limits. They also raise concerns that such bans could isolate teens from digital social networks integral to modern communication and education.  

In Europe, regulators are observing similar pressures to protect young users, though the block isn’t as sweeping. Several EU member states are studying measures that might restrict access for minors or introduce stronger age verification and safety safeguards. 

Legal Impact: 

• These age-specific restrictions could influence future amendments to digital safety laws and age verification standards worldwide. 

  
  

• Platforms may face increased compliance costs and legal obligations to provide evidence of user age. 

  
  

• The debate raises questions about children’s digital rights, privacy laws, and how parental consent mechanisms might operate in practice. 

As digital platforms spread across every demographic, policymakers continue to grapple with the balance between freedom of expression, safety, child protection, and enforceability. 

Source: Reuters  

3) Paris Cybercrime Raid on X Underlines AI Content Responsibility 

French cybercrime authorities raided the offices of X (formerly Twitter) in Paris as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged algorithm misuse and harmful content distribution. The probe focuses on how X’s AI chatbot Grok and algorithmic systems may have facilitated the spread of illegal deepfake material, sexually explicit content involving minors, and algorithmically promoted hate messaging.  

According to officials, the raid involved searches for evidence linked to algorithm abuse and fraudulent data extraction, and French prosecutors summoned current leadership, including Elon Musk and a former CEO, for hearings scheduled for April 2026. There have already been several complaints from lawmakers and civil society groups over platform moderation, content amplification, and failure to prevent harmful outcomes created by automated systems. 

Authorities are also coordinating with European and UK regulators, with parallel investigations underway in the United Kingdom by the Information Commissioner’s Office. This shows a new trend where international regulators are treating AI-enabled content generation and amplification as not only a consumer safety issue but a legal compliance risk under data protection, child protection, and cybercrime laws. 

Source: Reuters 

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