The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is set to launch an official investigation into allegations of online child sexual exploitation on TikTok. This follows a report published on March 3, 2025, by the BBC, which claims that the platform is profiting from sexual livestreams involving Kenyan teenagers as young as 15.
According to the BBC, three women in Kenya revealed that they had engaged in these activities as teenagers, using TikTok to market explicit content and arrange payments. The content was reportedly distributed through other messaging platforms, with TikTok allegedly taking around 70 percent of the revenue generated from the livestreams.
“These claims raise serious concerns about the exploitation of minors and the effectiveness of content moderation on digital platforms operating in Kenya,” the Communications Authority stated.
The CA, which regulates Kenya’s ICT sector, has confirmed that it is working closely with relevant government bodies to determine whether any laws have been breached. The dissemination of explicit content, particularly involving minors, violates multiple Kenyan laws, including the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, the Films and Stage Plays Act (Cap 222), and the Data Protection Act (Cap 411C).
The authority has warned that strict action will be taken if TikTok is found to be in violation of these regulations. In the meantime, CA has directed the platform to take immediate measures to remove any sexual content involving minors. TikTok is also required to provide an explanation of how such content managed to evade its moderation systems.
Additionally, the platform must submit a detailed strategy outlining how it intends to strengthen content moderation, improve child protection policies, and prevent further exploitation. The CA has insisted that TikTok must align with both Kenyan and international legal standards regarding the protection of minors.Kenya’s Communications Authority to Probe TikTok Over Allegations of Child Exploitation
This is not the first time TikTok has come under scrutiny in Kenya. In 2023, the government directed the platform to address its content moderation challenges and mandated the establishment of a local office to ensure compliance. TikTok was also required to submit quarterly compliance reports.
In its Q2 2024 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, the platform stated that it had removed 360,000 pieces of content that violated its policies. However, the latest allegations suggest that significant enforcement gaps remain, particularly in preventing the solicitation and exploitation of minors.
The CA has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that digital platforms operating in Kenya adhere to strict ethical and legal standards to safeguard users, especially vulnerable individuals such as children.
