Kenya’s Ministry of Communications recommends regulating TikTok, rejects outright ban

Kenya’s data ministry has opposed any solutions of a TikTok ban and argued that the favored Chinese language short-video social platform owned by ByteDance must be extra regulated.

In a parliamentary listening to on Friday, John Tanui, the ICT principal secretary, argued that banning the app carries a number of dangers, together with the emergence of splinternets, inhibiting competitors, and limiting freedom of expression. Tanui additionally stated banning TikTok would damage telcos’ information revenues.

The ministry beneficial a partial regulation in session with ByteDance to deal with considerations raised throughout the limits of Kenyan legal guidelines. It proposed increasing the mandate of the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) to supervise new media platforms, together with monitoring content material printed on-line.

It additionally desires TikTok to publish quarterly compliance stories detailing actions taken relating to printed unfavourable content material.

The social media app has come below elevated authorities scrutiny. Inside Minister Kithure Kindiki instructed a parliamentary listening to in March 2024 that criminals used TikTok “to unfold malicious propaganda, steal in style accounts by way of identification theft and impersonation” and “conduct fraud by duping Kenyans into faux foreign exchange trades and pretend job recruitments.”

The inside minister’s feedback got here eight months after Bob Ndolo, the CEO of Bridget Consultancy, filed a petition asking for a TikTok ban as a result of the social media app promotes hate speech, sexual violence, and vulgarity.  

In keeping with the ministry, the app has an estimated 10.6 million customers within the nation with some incomes a dwelling by posting content material. In a Reuters Institute report launched in 2023, Kenya ranked prime in TikTok utilization, with about 54% of the inhabitants utilizing the social media website. 

“The regulation of TikTok and comparable platforms as a substitute of a ban is a win-win answer. Regulation will keep entry to world social media platforms, which is able to improve the free circulate of knowledge and concepts throughout borders, enabling Kenyan web customers to be aggressive within the world digital panorama,” Tanu stated.

“TikTok serves as a various platform for expression, encompassing creativity, political commentary, and cultural illustration. Banning TikTok limits the channels by way of which people specific themselves, probably stifling a variety of views and artistic voices.”