Ruto says to speak to TikTok CEO over moderation of explicit content in Kenya

President William Ruto has said he is Thursday scheduled to speak to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew over the moderation of explicit content on the Chinese video-sharing platform.

Speaking Wednesday at the Nakuru State Lodge, Ruto said he plans to raise the issue of inappropriate content on the platform, which has led to the lodging of a petition in parliament seeking its ban in Kenya.

“Like we have moderation capacities of other platforms, tomorrow morning we are having a conversation with the global CEO of TikTok so we can agree on a mechanism for moderation in their space to get rid of negative content,” said the president.

In the petition to the National Assembly, the Executive Officer of Bridget Connect Consultancy Bob Ndolo wants MPs to ban the use of TikTok in the country, arguing the popular social media site is exposing young people to explicit sexual content.

The petitioner submits that content on TikTok is inappropriate and promotes violence, sex, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviour, terming it a threat to cultural and religious values.

However, the petition has met mixed reception from legislators, with some arguing that the platform should not be banned because it has birthed content creation jobs for the youth.

Among them is Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who told the House last Tuesday that while the petitioner has valid concerns, a total ban on TikTok is not the solution.

“The petitioner should come to seek on how to regulate the usage of the app, age group and content uploaded for a certain age to watch, outright banning would be killing careers of many young people who are earning a living through it,” Mr Ichung’wa said then.

In the meantime, National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula has directed the National Assembly's Public Petitions Committee to consider the petition and report its findings by October.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo last month announced there were plans to regulate the video-sharing site, especially during the night, saying he was aware of all manner of 'illegalities' taking place during the late hours of the night.