Kenya’s government is urging caution regarding a proposed ban on TikTok, emphasising the need for stricter regulatory oversight instead.
Concerns over the contents circulated on the platform have grown amidst allegations from Kenya’s interior ministry that Tiktok has been exploited for disseminating propaganda, perpetrating fraud, and sharing explicit material. This led to the discussion of a petition by a parliamentary panel, calling for the prohibition of TikTok.
However, Kenya’s Ministry of Information and Communication has proposed an alternative approach saying, “Rather than opting for a TikTok ban, the ministry suggests the implementation of a co-regulation framework”.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has not yet responded to these proposals. However, the company has previously defended its commitment to user privacy amidst similar controversies globally.
TikTok has faced regulatory scrutiny in various countries, particularly in the West. Italy recently imposed fines on three TikTok units for inadequate content moderation, especially concerning material potentially harmful to minors. In the United States, the Senate passed legislation aimed at banning TikTok if ByteDance fails to divest within the next nine to twelve months.
Melissa Enoch
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