NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Assembly’s Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation has rejected calls for a complete ban on the popular social media platform TikTok, opting instead for comprehensive regulatory reforms aimed at protecting users and strengthening digital governance.
The Committee has concluded that an outright ban would be unconstitutional and economically harmful, given TikTok’s role in communication, creativity and employment, especially among young people.
The petition to ban the app was filed in 2023 by consultant Bob Ndolo, who cited concerns that TikTok exposes youth to explicit content, hate speech and other harmful material.
However, lawmakers said removing the platform entirely would infringe on fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, and could stifle digital economic growth.
Instead of prohibition, the committee has recommended that TikTok and similar platforms be required to locate Kenyan user data within the country and comply fully with national laws, including the Data Protection Act.
Lawmakers want data localisation strengthened so that user information is stored on local servers rather than abroad, addressing concerns about sovereignty and security.
The committee has also directed the Ministries of Interior and the Digital Economy to work on enhancing online user protection and cybersecurity measures.
These include improving age‑verification systems to guard minors from harmful content and implementing digital literacy programmes on data privacy, processing and storage.
In addition, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has been tasked with engaging social media companies to assess compliance with Kenyan law, while proposed amendments to the Kenya Information and Communications Act would empower the Communications Authority of Kenya to oversee social media platforms more effectively.
Lawmakers also highlighted broader concerns about TikTok’s operations, urging platforms to adopt monetisation frameworks that allow Kenyan creators to earn directly from their content, similar to practices in other markets.
The committee has given relevant ministries four months to present progress on age verification, data localisation and other regulatory measures to Parliament.
