Concerns over online safety have become of growing importance to governments across the continent, and South Africa is no different. Late last year, an international study by Ipsos revealed that since 2019, South Africans' trust in the internet has declined. This is particularly true where it concerns privacy and the protection of personal data.

The survey, made up of 20 countries, including South Africa and Kenya, found that overall, 79 percent of all participants worried about their online privacy. When examined closely, 88 percent of respondents in South Africa voiced this same concern. These statistics are sobering -as the onus lies on technology companies to create features and tools for safe environments.

Google's goal has always been to ensure that the platform is the safer way to search, ultimately giving people transparency and control over their experience on the web.

Siya Madikane, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Google South Africa shares more....