Kenya Reconsiders TikTok Ban Amid Cybersecurity Concerns

The Kenyan government is reconsidering the TikTok ban, months after it moved away from the topic. To improve national security and protect sensitive information, the Kenyan government is considering limiting the usage of the widely used Chinese social media app TikTok among its personnel, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The Kenyan government is presently considering steps to protect sensitive data and enhance national security. As part of these efforts, the Interior Ministry is considering limits on government personnel’s usage of the popular Chinese social media platform TikTok.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki notified parliament of ongoing deliberations in the National Security Council (NSC) about the potential hazards linked with various social media sites, including TikTok.

“We are currently dealing with this matter of TikTok as the NSC. As you know, the Interior Ministry coordinates cyber security programme on behalf of the country,” Prof Kindiki said.

He further elaborated, “We as the National Police Service (NPS) and National Intelligence Service (NIS) are working with the Ministry of Defence and that of ICT to guard our cyber space from internal and external threats.”

Prof. Kindiki disclosed to the National Assembly’s Public Petitions committee that the NSC is contemplating whether to prohibit public officials from using TikTok to shield sensitive information from potential compromise.