A global discussion on the future of social media regulation has Kenya at its centre. TikTok is very famous in Kenya, but some people are calling for its inappropriate content to be banned. The Kenyan government, on the other hand, wants to handle things differently.
The ICT ministry has contested TikTok’s outright prohibition. According to John Tanui, the ICT Principal Secretary, this would limit free speech, slow down the growth of the digital economy, and cause the internet to become more disorganised.
“Regulating TikTok and other similar sites instead of banning them is a good solution for everyone,” Tanui said. The government will ensure that people can still access global social media sites. It will improve the free flow of information and ideas across countries and make Kenyan internet users more competitive in the global digital world.
Read also: Kenya requests compliance reports from TikTok
Kenyan Government-TikTok Social Media Safety Collaboration
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and the Ministry’s proposed solution include working together more. Expanding the Communication Authority of Kenya’s (CAK) power to watch online content successfully is part of this. Furthermore, the Ministry wants TikTok to put out reports every three months that show what steps were taken to remove harmful material from the platform.
Bob Ndolo, CEO of Bridget Consultancy, filed a petition in August 2023, which directly answers it. Ndolo was worried that TikTok encouraged bullying, sexual violence, and foul language, so he wanted the app to be banned altogether.
The petition gained popularity as app content concerns grew. In March 2024, Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki suggested banning government officials from TikTok for national security reasons.
However, a complete ban has drawbacks. According to the Reuters Institute, Kenya has the highest TikTok usage percentage in the world, at 54%. TikTok has helped millions of Kenyans make money as content creators. A prohibition could hurt their livelihood and Kenyan cellular providers’ earnings.
TikTok Control: Kenya’s Social Media Future
The new rules appear to represent a compromise between defending users’ right to free speech and shielding them from offensive information. This approach fits with what some Kenyans are worried about, who think that the government’s attempts to control the platform are an attack on free speech.
Read also: TikTok deletes 1.7 million Nigerian videos
Kenya’s discussion about TikTok is one of many. The app is also being closely examined and could be banned in places like the US and India. This is primarily because of worries about data privacy, as it is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
Kenya’s moderation method will depend on several factors. First, the suggested content moderation measures need to be carefully tested to determine their effectiveness. Making TikTok clear about how it removes dangerous content will be very important for building trust.
In addition, the Kenyan government needs to ensure that the rules don’t become a way to control people. Finding the right balance between protecting users and stifling free speech will always be difficult. Finally, how well this method works in the long run will depend on how well it changes with the times and the kinds of material that social media sites host.
