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Kenya Orders Social Media Firms to Open Local Offices

The Kenyan government has required all social media platforms operating in the country to set up physical offices within its territory. This move is intended to improve accountability and address issues like disinformation, online abuse, and the incitement of violence.

This action is a response to growing worries about the improper use of social media, particularly among the youth in Kenya.

Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary of the Interior, underscored the importance of this action, stating, “The rising abuse of social media, such as harassment, hate speech, and incitement to violence, requires swift and decisive intervention.”

He also stressed that both telecommunications providers and platform operators must fully comply with the regulations to effectively address online criminal activities.

This directive specifically targets prominent global corporations, including Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram , as well as X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk. Additional platforms such as TikTok  , YouTube ,Snapchat ,LinkedIn , and Pinterest are also mandated to adhere to the new regulations.

This directive comes after a recent pledge by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to take strong action against individuals exploiting social media to tarnish the reputations of public officials and disseminate damaging content. He underscored that the government would arrest and prosecute those in violation of Kenya’s cybercrime laws.

As of January 2024, Kenya has 13.05 million active social media users, making this new requirement for social media companies to set up physical offices in the country crucial for ensuring accountability and improving oversight of online platforms. The government seeks to address problems such as harmful content, disinformation, and breaches of local laws and cultural norms. This move also strengthens the government’s ability to enforce local regulations and hold platforms accountable.

However, this decision has raised concerns. Critics argue it may restrict freedom of expression and hinder social media companies’ ability to operate freely. They caution that excessive regulation could stifle innovation, diminish the global reach of these platforms, and potentially infringe upon users’ rights to share information without constraints.

This isn’t the first instance of the government requiring social media platforms to set up offices in Kenya. In August 2023, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew agreed to open a Kenyan office to manage the platform’s operations across Africa. This decision followed a virtual meeting with President William Ruto, during which TikTok committed to moderating content in line with community standards and promised to increase hiring of Kenyans for content moderation roles.

Although the office was expected to be based in Nairobi to enhance content moderation and collaborate with the Kenyan government on adhering to community standards, more than a year has passed with no visible progress on this commitment.

This action came after Bob Ndolo, CEO of Briget Connect Consultancy, filed a petition with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula in August 2023. In the petition, Ndolo urged the Kenyan government to ban TikTok, raising concerns about the platform’s content. He argued that TikTok fosters violence, vulgar language, explicit sexual content, and hate speech, which he claimed undermine Kenya’s cultural and religious values.

In March 2024, the Ministry of Interior deliberated on limiting the use of TikTok by government officials as a measure to safeguard sensitive information and protect the security of Kenyan citizens.

SOURCE 

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Written by Grace Ashiru

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