The Communications Authority (CA) is concerned after a report by the BBC titled “TikTok Profiting from Sexual Livestreams in Kenya Involving Children”, published on March 03, 2025.
The report alleges the involvement of minors in the sale of sexual content via livestreams on TikTok, with the platform reportedly retaining a significant commission from the content.
These allegations, CA says, raise serious issues regarding the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, including children, and the adequacy of content moderation on digital platforms operating within Kenya.
Kenya has robust laws in place to address online child protection. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, criminalizes online child exploitation and prescribes penalties for offenders. The Films and Stage Plays Act (Cap 222) mandates Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) to regulate and classify content to protect minors, while the Children Act, (Cap 141), aligns with international standards on child rights and protection.
Additionally, the Data Protection Act, (Cap 411C), demands that the personal data of children is safeguarded from exploitation.
“Our laws are in full alignment with international instruments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), particularly Article 34 on protection from sexual exploitation, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Child Online Protection Guidelines,” CA Director General David Mugonyi says in a statement.
The Communications Authority of Kenya is mandated to regulate the communications sector, promote fair practices and safeguard the public against harmful or illegal content The allegations contained in the report by the BBC constitute a violation of Kenyan and international laws and regulations governing online conduct and the protection of children.
In 2023, the Government of Kenya directed TikTok to address its apparent content moderation challenges. TikTok committed to enhance regulatory oversight and establish a local office to coordinate operations in Kenya. These new allegations suggest that significant gaps remain in the platform’s enforcement of its own policies against solicitation and exploitation.
In response to this report by the BBC, CA is taking the following immediate actions:
- Directing TikTok to actively pull down all sexual content involving minors on their platform including on livestreams.
- Launching a formal inquiry into the allegations raised in the report in collaboration with the relevant government agencies to identify any breaches of the law. CA will not hesitate to issue sanctions.
- Directing TikTok to explain how offensive content is able to bypass its content moderation mechanisms. TikTok must also present a plan to show how they intend to enhance these mechanisms to strengthen child protection and prevent exploitation of minors on the platform, and demonstrate compliance with Kenyan and international law.
- Intensifying efforts to educate the public, particularly parents and guardians, on Child Online Protection and on the safe use of digital platforms such as promotion of use of parental control tools and safe internet usage practices. We encourage parents and guardians to take advantage of the resources available to aid protection of minors online, available at https://cop.kecirt.go.ke/.
“We reiterate our commitment to fostering a safe, secure and ethical digital environment for all Kenyans. We also call upon all online service providers operating in Kenya to adhere to prevailing legal and regulatory requirements with respect to protection of minors and prevention of dissemination of harmful content.”
