Nairobi, February 18- Members of Parliament have rejected proposals to ban TikTok in Kenya, instead calling for stricter regulations to address concerns around child safety, data privacy, and harmful content.
The debate followed a petition seeking to outlaw the platform over claims it exposes minors to explicit material, hate speech, and content that undermines cultural and religious values. However, lawmakers argued that a complete ban would infringe on fundamental rights and negatively impact Kenya’s growing digital economy.
Parliament is now pushing for new measures to be introduced within four months, including stronger age verification systems, local storage of Kenyan user data, and enhanced cybersecurity protections. Authorities are also expected to roll out digital literacy programmes to promote responsible online use.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has been tasked with ensuring compliance with data protection laws, while MPs are also proposing legal reforms to give regulators greater oversight over social media platforms.
In addition, lawmakers have urged platforms like TikTok to expand monetisation opportunities for Kenyan creators and improve content moderation through a mix of advanced technology and human oversight.
MPs Reject TikTok Ban, Push for Stricter Regulations to Protect Minors and Data
