TikTok has revealed that it removed over 360,000 videos from its platform in Kenya for violating its community guidelines, according to the company’s Q2 2024 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report.
This initiative is part of TikTok’s ongoing efforts to maintain a safer user environment in the country.
The videos taken down represent only 0.3% of the total videos uploaded in Kenya during the latest reporting period.
The report also noted that 99.1% of these videos were flagged and removed proactively, before any user complaints were filed, and 95% were taken down within 24 hours of being identified.
Along with the video removals, the ByteDance owned company also banned 60,465 accounts for violating its guidelines. Of these, 57,262 accounts were deleted due to suspicions that the users were under the age of 13.
This announcement comes amid criticism from the Kenyan government, which has accused TikTok of promoting propaganda, facilitating fraudulent activities, and hosting explicit content.
In response, Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, TikTok’s Director of Government and Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, addressed these issues during a parliamentary session earlier this year.
He highlighted that TikTok’s community guidelines and tools are designed to create a safe and positive space for users, outlining clear norms and codes of conduct.
“TikTok is an entertaining and joyful platform because of the work we put into keeping it safe, including a $2 billion investment in our global Trust and Safety efforts this year,” Mr Mgwili-Sibanda said in the session.
To address the concerns raised by the Kenyan government, Mr Mgwili-Sibanda reiterated TikTok’s commitment to conducting ongoing workshops for policymakers and regulatory bodies.
These workshops are aimed at educating them on the platform’s operations, especially around issues like online safety, data privacy, and content moderation.
He added, “We are committed to contributing to the safety of our Kenyan community and look forward to working more closely with our stakeholders in Kenya, including government, media, civil society, and the wider community.”
In another move to enhance regional safety, TikTok appointed Lillian Kariuki of Kenya to its newly established TikTok Safety Advisory Council for Sub-Saharan Africa in August.
This council is part of a broader initiative, with TikTok having launched nine regional advisory councils since 2020.
These councils bring together experts in areas such as youth safety, free expression, and hate speech to influence TikTok’s policies and features.
The firm further emphasized that these advisory councils are crucial in adapting the platform’s policies to address emerging challenges.
The Sub-Saharan Africa Safety Advisory Council, in particular, will focus on regional safety concerns, collaborating with local experts to develop forward-thinking policies.
“TikTok remains committed to investing in advanced moderation technologies and ensuring transparency in its safety efforts to provide a secure environment for users in Kenya and worldwide,” the company stated.