The Communication Authority of Kenya CA has said parents and telecom firms risk a Sh300,000 fine for the registration of minors using smartphones.

This comes with the latest push to limit the exposure of minors to online negative conduct such as pornography, cybercrime and bullying.

Under the proposed Internet Safety Guidelines, parents will be required to provide the identities of children using smartphones while registering SIM cards used by minors instead of normal registration in which parents use their credentials to register SIM cards.

Exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, and identity theft among other vices have caused the listing to offer the regulator a registry of children using smartphones.

According to guidelines released by the authority, mobile service providers are supposed to ensure that all SIM cards that are intended for use by minors shall be registered through available age verification mechanisms.

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"Mobile phone subscribers are informed of the need to appropriately register their SIM cards and declare the intended subscribers of the SIM cards,” CA said.

In the guidelines, the registration of SIM cards will be done under the Kenya Information and Communication  (Registration of SIM-cards) Regulations, 2015.

The guidelines could be enforced under the regulations, which will provide for a Sh 300,000 fine of a 6-month jail term or both if.

Over the years, the usage of mobile handheld devices that connect to the internet has increased among children as the cost of the devices also comes down.

This means minors are getting exposed to uncontrolled internet, which opens the doors to new health concerns that edge out traditional worries such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, peer influence or involvement in early sexual activities.

The new guide will see manufacturers and vendors of communication devices activate heightened default security features ahead of selling them out to customers especially those that are intended for use by minors.

"Manufacturers and vendors of communication devices including customer premises equipment should…activate heightened default security prior to them being sold or made accessible to customers, especially for devices that would be used by children," reads the guidelines.

This is an attempt by the government to cushion underage persons against vices committed in the cyberspace