Kenya Proposes Law to Protect Children from Harmful Online Content

The Kenyan government has proposed a new law to safeguard children from harmful online content, including pornography, cyberbullying, and other forms of exploitation. The Online Safety Bill, 2026, targets tech firms and their executives, imposing punitive punishments to curb online abuse. If passed, the legislation will require parental consent for children under 18 to access social media, with age verification measures in place.

The proposed law is long overdue, with many countries already implementing similar legislation to protect their youth. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have strict social media policies in place to safeguard children. Kenya's move is aimed at shielding its young people from online crooks who easily contact and extort them. According to Unicef, the threat of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse is a major concern.

Under the proposed law, service providers who fail to comply with the new rules will face a Sh500 million fine. Social media practitioners will be required to conduct a risk assessment of their content every year and remove any potentially harmful material from their platforms. They will also have to conduct age verification with parents' identities before granting access. CEOs who fail to comply will face a Sh10 million fine or imprisonment.

The proposed legislation has been welcomed as a crucial step towards protecting children in the digital world. With children spending more time online than ever before, the law aims to make the digital world a safer place for them to learn and express themselves. Unicef is working with governments to effect regulation and safeguard children's rights.

The Online Safety Bill, 2026, targets popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X, which are widely used by young people. The platforms are often plagued by harmful content, including pornography, hate speech, graphic violence, and the promotion of suicide and harmful substances.

Parents will be empowered to withdraw consent at any time, and age verification measures will be put in place to ensure that children under 18 are not accessing social media without parental consent. The proposed law aims to strike a balance between protecting children and respecting constitutional rights.

While the proposed legislation is crucial, there are concerns that it should not be used as a cover-up for devious crackdowns that undermine cardinal freedoms and violate constitutional rights. The bill will now be debated in parliament, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting its outcome.

Key points

• The proposed law requires parental consent and age verification for children under 18 to access social media.
• Tech firms and executives will face punitive punishments for non-compliance.
• The law aims to shield children from online abuse, including pornography, cyberbullying, and exploitation.