Kenyans will soon need national IDs to log into Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp and other social media platforms. The guidelines are designed to compel digital platforms to take responsibility for user identities. Photo: Alistair Berg. Source: Getty Images In a bold and potentially world-first move, Kenya is on the cusp of enforcing mandatory identity verification for all social media users, a move that could alter the country’s digital landscape. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) confirmed that new child online protection guidelines, which take effect in six months, will require all ICT product and service providers, including social media platforms, to develop and implement strict age verification mechanisms.
While the directive initially allows for self-declared age input, officials at the CA have disclosed that the ultimate goal is full ID-based verification. “Initially, service providers may accept user-entered ages, but ultimately everyone will be required to verify their identity through government-issued ID,” said a CA official as reported by Business Daily. This means users who currently enjoy anonymous or pseudonymous access to platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp will, in time, be compelled to confirm their age and identity using official documents such as a national ID card or passport. The move, authorities say, is primarily aimed at shielding children from harmful digital content. Why is Kenya seeking new law ID verification
Kenya’s new guidelines are part of a broader strategy to protect children online by integrating safety mechanisms from the design phase of digital services. They also place the burden of protection squarely on digital service providers, including app developers, mobile operators, device manufacturers, and content creators. The verification process has been necessitated by the need for protection online. Photo: Isaac Kasamani. Source: Getty Images According to the Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection and Safety in Kenya, all application and content service providers must develop and implement age verification systems, register SIM cards used by children in line with national regulations, declare the intended users of SIM cards upon registration, appoint personnel specifically tasked with online child safety and publish child protection policies and submit periodic compliance reports to the CA.
These regulations are the culmination of public consultations and are part of the CA’s constitutional mandate to protect ICT consumers, especially children, from digital exploitation, cyberbullying, and age-inappropriate content. Why Atwoli wants social media regulated In a related report, during the Labour Day celebrations, COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli urged President William Ruto to regulate social media in Kenya. He expressed concern that online platforms were being used to incite unrest under the guise of activism, posing a threat to national unity. Atwoli cited countries like China and the UK, where social media is regulated, suggesting Kenya should follow suit.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
