Kenya’s government, on the topic of what to do about concerns regarding Chinese short video app, TikTok, has recommended against banning the platform, instead urging lawmakers to opt for stricter regulations.
A panel in parliament has been reviewing a petition from a Kenyan citizen calling for a ban on the Chinese-owned platform. The recommendation from the government comes in response to accusations from the interior ministry that TikTok has been utilised for spreading propaganda, perpetrating fraud, and disseminating sexual content.
The Ministry of Information and Communication advised the panel against imposing a ban, proposing the adoption of a co-regulation model instead. Under this model, TikTok would be required to screen content to ensure compliance with Kenyan laws and submit quarterly reports to the government detailing the material it had removed.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has yet to respond to the Kenyan government’s advisory. In previous instances of criticism in other countries, TikTok has defended its record on user privacy.
The platform has faced regulatory scrutiny globally, particularly in Western countries. Last month, Italy imposed fines on three TikTok units for inadequate content checks, especially content deemed potentially harmful to children or vulnerable users.
In the United States, the Senate recently passed legislation that would ban TikTok if ByteDance fails to divest its operations within the next nine months to a year. Accor4ding to Reuters, concerns among US lawmakers primarily revolve around fears that China could access Americans’ data or surveil them through the app.
