Kenya’s Ministry of Information has voiced its opposition to the notion of banning TikTok, the widely popular Chinese short-video social platform owned by ByteDance, instead advocating for increased regulation.
During a parliamentary hearing on Friday, the Principal Secretary of ICT, John Tanui, outlined the risks associated with banning the app, including the potential emergence of splinternets, hindrance to competition, and curtailment of freedom of expression. Tanui further emphasized the adverse impact a TikTok ban could have on telecommunications companies’ data revenues.
In proposing an alternative approach, the ministry suggested implementing partial regulation in collaboration with ByteDance, within the confines of Kenyan laws. This recommendation includes expanding the mandate of the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) to oversee new media platforms and monitor online content. Additionally, the ministry called for TikTok to publish quarterly compliance reports detailing its actions taken in response to negative content published on the platform.
TikTok has increasingly faced scrutiny from the government, with Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki highlighting concerns about its misuse by criminals during a parliamentary hearing in March 2024. Allegations included the spread of malicious propaganda, identity theft, impersonation, and fraudulent activities such as fake forex trades and job recruitments.
These concerns were shown by Bob Ndolo, CEO of Bridget Consultancy, who petitioned for a TikTok ban eight months earlier, citing the promotion of hate speech, sexual violence, and vulgarity on the platform. Despite these criticisms, TikTok boasts an estimated 10.6 million users in Kenya, with some individuals earning a livelihood by creating and sharing content.
A report by the Reuters Institute in 2023 revealed that Kenya leads in TikTok usage, with approximately 54% of the population actively engaging with the platform. In light of these statistics, John Tanui emphasized the importance of regulating TikTok rather than resorting to a ban, asserting that regulation would facilitate access to global social media platforms, thereby fostering the free flow of information and ideas across borders.
Furthermore, Tanui underscored TikTok’s role as a diverse platform for expression, encompassing creativity, political commentary, and cultural representation. He argued that banning TikTok would limit avenues for individuals to express themselves, potentially stifling a range of perspectives and creative voices within the Kenyan digital landscape.