Kenya is exploring stronger ways of keeping children safe online, with stakeholders calling for age verification systems that also protect privacy. The discussions brought regulators, government agencies and digital stakeholders together to examine how online risks affecting children can be addressed.
KICTANet convened a multi stakeholder roundtable on child online safety, where participants examined the challenges of determining users’ ages on digital platforms.
The discussions included the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), KE-CIRT/CC and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NC4).
Age verification emerged as one of the key issues. However, participants noted that protecting children requires more than simply determining whether a user is below or above a certain age.
They also discussed privacy and data minimisation, as well as the legal responsibilities of organisations operating digital platforms. At the same time, stakeholders considered the changing capacity of adolescents to make decisions about their online activities.
Participants supported a layered approach to age verification because children face different risks across digital platforms. Rather than relying on one method, they highlighted the need for safeguards that are proportionate to the risks involved.
The approach would also need to balance child protection with privacy. This is important because age verification can involve the handling of personal information, and stakeholders discussed the need to minimise the data collected for such purposes.
The discussions further highlighted the need for closer coordination among regulators, digital platforms and government agencies. Such cooperation would help stakeholders respond to emerging online safety concerns while ensuring that their respective legal responsibilities are considered.
The roundtable also brought attention to the role of adolescents in online safety discussions. Their growing ability to understand and navigate digital spaces means that safeguards may need to reflect their different levels of capacity and the risks they encounter.
KICTANet and the participating institutions therefore emphasised continued collaboration as Kenya works to strengthen child online safety. The discussions focused on developing practical safeguards while maintaining privacy and creating a safer digital environment for children.