#16: Understanding online trust and safety with Pearlé Nwaezeigwe

Hello and welcome to another edition of IT GIRL Africa (IGA). IGA is a sporadic newsletter that covers excellence in business, technology, and arts in Africa.?

Today’s edition features a written interview between Pearlé Nwaezeigwe and Lady Kay (editor-in-chief, IGA).?

Pearlé is a trust and safety expert who has spent the last 5 years working at the intersection of human rights and technology.?

Enjoy your reading experience.?

P.S: If you loved this edition, consider sharing it with someone in your professional network. Thank you ??

Meet Pearlé ??

Tech policy is a subset of human rights and technology.

Pearlé, and other professionals who work in technology, policy, and digital safety fields, are focused on protecting users online and making sure that they don't see questionable, violent, or unethical content online.?

Tech policy professionals ensure that they do their best to protect users, their privacy, and how they express themselves online.?

Pearlé has worked for big tech companies in California and Ireland, and is currently growing her professional life in the UK.

Pearle’s journey in the world of trust and safety ???

Lady: What drew you to trust and safety?

Pearlé: I've always had an interest in human rights and even did some work in that sector when I was in college. As I saw the world of online rights merging with technology, I started to ask myself some questions: how do we protect users? How do we protect their online speech and keep them safe? These questions pulled me deeper into the world of trust and safety.

LK: Can you explain trust and safety to me like I’m a 5 year old?

Pearlé: Trust and safety exists under an umbrella representing tech companies and industries that deal with the safety of users.?

The whole idea of trust and safety is if a user feels safe enough to use a company’s platform, the user will trust the company more and will be more compelled to purchase a product, continue to use the platform, or refer the platform to someone in their life.

Let’s use a smart bicycle company as an example. If I tested one of their smart bicycles and realized that it was not safe enough to take me from point A to B, I’ll be less inclined to use the product again or recommend it to a friend.

Online safety: myth or reality? ??

LK: How has the relationship between technology and online safety evolved over the last five years?

Pearlé: About two decades ago, a law was introduced and that law still significantly influences how tech companies operate today. That law is called Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.?

Originally, this law wasn’t designed specifically for tech—it was intended for publishers like newspapers and magazines. The basic idea is that editors have the right to manage content—whether that means taking something down or leaving it up—without being overly responsible for what’s posted by others.

However, the landscape shifted when Facebook faced major scrutiny, especially during the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It became clear that these big tech companies had amassed too much power. There was rampant data harvesting, harmful content spreading unchecked, and incidents like the crisis in Myanmar, where hate speech on these platforms contributed to real-world violence.

This concept has now extended to tech companies. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok are treated like publishers, giving them certain rights to either keep or remove content.?

In response to these significant issues, lawmakers and companies alike realised the need for more regulations.?

On one side, companies began drafting stronger internal policies to protect users, curb misinformation, and prevent hate speech. On the other side, policymakers started introducing more laws like the Digital Safety Act, Online Safety Act, GDPR, and others to create better safeguards for the digital world.

So you want to build a career in trust and safety? ??

LK: What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to make a difference in the tech and policy landscape?

Pearlé: The first step is to identify the specific area of technology you want to impact because tech is vast, with countless different fields—some well-known, others not so much. There’s gaming, FinTech, social media, AI, and so on. It’s important to be clear about the industry you want to enter and ideally start with something you’re already passionate about.?

Once you’ve chosen your industry, begin by understanding the relevant laws and policies, both internal and external. Internal policies are especially important because, despite government efforts to regulate tech companies, these companies are private entities, and there’s only so much the government can do.?

As a policy professional, you’ll need to grasp not just the policies themselves but also how to solve problems, since you’ll encounter plenty. Understanding the processes different companies use to address challenges is key because each one approaches things differently. This is where comparative analysis comes in—if you’re focusing on gaming, for example, you could study how companies like Minecraft or Sony handle online safety and policy issues. Then, consider how you would address those same issues if you were in their position.

Next, it’s essential to connect with industry leaders and experts. Talk to your peers, those in senior positions, and C-suite executives to understand the various layers of the industry. What does their day-to-day work look like? Would you enjoy doing this job yourself??

Finally, start sharing what you learn. That’s how I got started—I read a lot, found it fascinating, and began sharing my insights. As I kept sharing, I gained traction, connected with more people, and was invited into more rooms. We’re in an era where everyone is building their personal brand online, which is great. Use that to your advantage by carving out a niche for yourself.?

Pearlé’s thoughts to protecting yourself online ???

LK: Can you break down what a digital footprint is and how we can manage our footprints online?

Pearlé: Every click you make online leaves a digital footprint. For example, this morning, I could track how many times I clicked on my Gmail or how often I visited Instagram or LinkedIn. Your IP address, the places you visit online, and even your travel history all contribute to this footprint.

When it comes to managing it, many people are understandably worried about their digital footprint. My advice is to embrace your digital footprint—but do so on your terms. Decide how much you want to share and be intentional about it.?

I’m not suggesting you overshare everything, but share what you're comfortable with and embrace that part of your online presence.

To protect yourself, determine what you’ll share, which platforms you’ll use, and what tools you’ll employ for security—such as VPNs or camera blockers. It’s crucial to make conscious decisions because tech companies aren’t focused on giving us a full sense of security; their priority is profit, mainly through ad revenue.?

Choose which apps or platforms you’re comfortable with, and make sure you understand their security measures. Take steps to enhance your online security where you can. But above all, try to enjoy the digital experience. Your digital footprint opens up countless opportunities to connect with others and learn from online platforms. The key is to strike a balance—participate in the digital world, take what you need from it, but establish clear boundaries for where you draw the line and protect your privacy.

Conclusion: A brief history of Section 230 ???

In 1996, Section 230 was enacted as part of the Communications Decency Act.?

Section 230 of the Communications Act is like a safety shield for websites and social media platforms. It says that these platforms aren't responsible for what their users post. Imagine a website as a bulletin board in a public space: if someone pins up something harmful or false on that board, the owner of the board isn't blamed for it.

Section 230 allows platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube to host user-generated content without being held legally responsible for every single post, comment, or video. It also gives them the freedom to moderate content (like removing harmful posts) without losing this protection.

In a way, Section 230 helps the internet be a place where people can freely share ideas and opinions without making the platforms legally liable for everything people say.