TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing app that has taken the world by storm, is facing a serious challenge in Kenya, where a petition to ban it has been tabled in Parliament.
The petition, filed by Bob Ndolo, an executive officer of Bridget Connect Consultancy, claims that TikTok is exposing young people to explicit sexual content, hate speech, violence, and offensive behaviour.
Ndolo also argues that TikTok is violating the privacy and data protection rights of its users, and threatening the cultural and religious values of Kenyans.
The petition has received mixed reactions from lawmakers and the public. Some legislators have supported the call to ban TikTok, citing the need to protect children and the family unit from harmful influences.
Others have opposed the idea, saying that TikTok is a source of entertainment, social connection, and income for many young Kenyans who use it to create and share content. They have also pointed out that banning TikTok would infringe on the freedom of expression and access to information.
The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), the state agency responsible for regulating the creation and distribution of films, has also weighed in on the matter.
The KFCB has expressed concern over the explicit and offensive content shared by some Kenyan TikTok users, especially during live-streaming sessions at night.
The KFCB has engaged with TikTok management to disable the live feature and moderate the content on the platform. TikTok has agreed to comply with the KFCB’s guidelines and set up a Kenyan office to coordinate its operations in Africa.
However, some lobby groups are not satisfied with the KFCB’s actions and have urged it to expedite the ban of TikTok Live. They have also called for a total ban of TikTok in Kenya, saying that the app is ungovernable and corrupting the youth.
They have cited examples of other countries that have banned or restricted TikTok over security and moral concerns, such as India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the United States.
The fate of TikTok in Kenya now lies in the hands of Parliament, which will deliberate on the petition and make a decision. Whether TikTok will survive or succumb to the pressure remains to be seen. In the meantime, millions of Kenyans continue to enjoy the app, unaware of the looming threat.