Kenya has ordered TikTok to remove sexual content involving minors after a BBC report exposed the exploitation of teens as young as 15 in sexual livestreams. The Communications Authority of Kenya launched an inquiry, warning of sanctions for legal violations. TikTok, facing scrutiny over content moderation, is the third most popular social media app in the country.
On Thursday, Kenyan authorities mandated TikTok to remove any sexual content involving minors following an investigative report by the BBC. This report revealed that TikTok was profiting from sexual livestreams conducted by Kenyan teenagers as young as 15 years old.
The Communications Authority of Kenya initiated a formal inquiry and cautioned TikTok that it would impose sanctions if any legal violations were discovered. The existing Kenyan law criminalizes online exploitation of children, underscoring the seriousness of such offenses.
The regulatory authority has requested TikTok to provide explanations regarding how such offensive content manages to evade their content moderation systems. TikTok has risen to prominence as the third most popular social media platform in Kenya, trailing Facebook and WhatsApp, attracting the youth with its array of short videos.
With over one billion active users globally, TikTok has been under scrutiny in various jurisdictions, including facing accusations of espionage in the United States and an investigation by the European Union for alleged political manipulation in Romania. Additionally, several nations have prohibited personnel within state institutions from using the platform.
The Kenyan directive to TikTok emphasizes the need for strict enforcement of laws against child exploitation. The BBC report highlights significant concerns regarding the platform’s accountability in its content moderation practices. As social media use continues to rise, the safeguarding of minors remains a critical issue that must be addressed urgently. Regulatory authorities must persist in their efforts to ensure that platforms like TikTok comply with legal standards aimed at protecting vulnerable populations.
Original Source: gulfnews.com
