Petition richtet sich an: The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and The Film and Publication Board (FPB)

We, the undersigned South African citizens and residents, respectfully petition as follows:

1. Background and Context
TikTok, a global social media platform widely used by minors in South Africa, has become a significant space for online interaction and expression. However, it is increasingly misused for harmful practices such as cyberbullying involving minors.

Of urgent concern is the conduct of specific TikTok users: @popaye_popaye.123 and @💙 DramaBoy🏡💙cancer, who have been repeatedly uploading, distributing, and mocking images and videos of minors on the platform without their consent or that of their guardians. These videos include commentary and visual effects that ridicule, degrade, or humiliate the children involved. This behaviour violates the fundamental rights of children as protected by South African law and demands urgent regulatory attention.

2. Legal and Human Rights Concerns
The actions by the users @popaye_popaye.123 and @💙 DramaBoy🏡💙cancer are believed to violate the following rights and protections:

• Section 28 of the Constitution guarantees every child the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse, or degradation.
• Section 14 of the Constitution guarantees the right to privacy, including protection of personal images and data.
• The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 places a duty on all sectors of society to protect children from exploitation and harmful practices.
• The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) requires consent for the collection, sharing, or use of personal information, especially involving minors.
• The Films and Publications Act, as amended, grants the FPB power to classify and restrict harmful digital content, particularly when it targets children.