The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has ordered TikTok to take down all sexual content involving minors, following a BBC report that exposed cases of children being exploited on the platform.

The exposé, titled "TikTok Profiting from Sexual Livestreams in Kenya Involving Children", published on Monday, alleged that the platform not only hosted but also profited from livestreams featuring minors engaging in inappropriate acts.

The report has sparked serious concerns over TikTok’s content moderation practices and the protection of vulnerable children in Kenya.

According to CA, such activities violate both Kenyan and international laws designed to shield minors from online exploitation.

"The allegations contained in the report by the BBC constitute a violation of Kenyan and international laws and regulations governing online conduct and the protection of children," CA stated.

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The authority said that Kenya’s legal framework on child protection includes the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, which criminalises online child exploitation, and the Children Act, which aligns with international standards on child rights.

The country is also a signatory to key global agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

Concerns over TikTok’s content moderation are not new.

The government directed the platform to tighten its oversight mechanisms in 2023, prompting TikTok to pledge enhanced regulations and the establishment of a local office in Kenya.

However, CA now suggests that these commitments have not been fully implemented.

"These new allegations suggest that significant gaps remain in the platform's enforcement of its own policies against solicitation and exploitation," the regulator noted.

Following the BBC’s report, the Communications Authority of Kenya has outlined a series of urgent measures to address the issue, including:

 • Directing TikTok to remove all content involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

 • Initiating a formal inquiry into the matter alongside relevant government agencies, with possible sanctions for violations.

 • Requiring TikTok to explain how such content bypassed its moderation mechanisms and to submit a plan for strengthening its child protection measures.

 • Stepping up public awareness campaigns, urging parents and guardians to utilise available online child protection tools.

CA reiterated its commitment to fostering a safe, secure and ethical digital environment for all Kenyans.

"We also call upon all online service providers operating in Kenya to adhere to prevailing legal and regulatory requirements with respect to protection of minors and prevention of dissemination of harmful content," CA stated.

The developments are likely to intensify scrutiny on TikTok’s operations in Kenya, with authorities pushing for stricter enforcement of child safety measures on the platform.