Following a report by BBC that accused TikTok of profiting from sexually explicit content involving minors, the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) has announced a major crackdown on the platform.
CAK is demanding accountability from the Chinese-owned social media company over these serious allegations.
In a statement released on Thursday, March 6, David Mugonyi, CEO of CAK, made it clear that if the allegations in the BBC report are found to be true, the authority will not hesitate to impose sanctions on TikTok.
The accusations center around minors being involved in the sale of explicit content through livestreams, with TikTok reportedly taking a significant commission from these activities.
Mugonyi emphasized the severity of the issue, stating that the report raises major concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, especially children, and questioned the effectiveness of TikTok’s content moderation mechanisms.
As part of the crackdown, the CAK has instructed TikTok to remove any sexual content involving minors, particularly from livestreams, in compliance with local laws.
“The report alleges that TikTok was involved in facilitating the sale of sexual content by minors through live streams, and the platform was reportedly profiting from this content,” Mugonyi explained.
“This raises serious questions about how such content could bypass the platform’s content moderation systems and about TikTok’s responsibility to protect minors from exploitation.”
TikTok will now be required to explain how such offensive content was allowed on its platform and how it intends to enhance its content moderation systems to better protect children.
The company must also demonstrate that it is complying with both Kenyan and international laws to prevent the exploitation of minors online.
While the CAK is focused on holding TikTok accountable, it is also committed to educating parents and guardians about online child protection.
The authority aims to promote safe internet use, including the use of parental control tools and practices to ensure children’s safety while using digital platforms.
In addition, the CAK has reminded other online service providers operating in Kenya that they must adhere to the country’s legal and regulatory requirements to prevent the spread of harmful content.
The crackdown on TikTok comes just a month after the platform revealed it had removed more than 334,000 videos in the third quarter of the previous year for violating community guidelines.
These videos were removed for various reasons, including content that lacked integrity, infringed on youth safety, and violated guidelines on mental and behavioral health.
TikTok, for its part, has emphasized that it is working on building a platform where Kenyan users can create, connect, and enjoy entertainment safely.
The company has pledged to invest in advanced technologies, expand trust and safety teams, and form local partnerships to address the concerns raised in the country.
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