Kenya: Communications Authority adopted industry guidelines for child online protection and safety in Kenya

On 29 April 2025, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) adopted the Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection and Safety. The guidelines are founded on several principles, with a primary focus on safeguarding children’s rights to access information and ensuring the safe use of ICT products. They underscore the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in the internet ecosystem to promote child protection. Service providers are required to publish corporate policies aligning with child online protection objectives. This involves deploying age-verification mechanisms, enhancing default privacy settings, and committing to transparency in content management. Additionally, there is a call for the development of child-focused products and services, encouraging creative and educational engagement online. Furthermore, all ICT service providers must align with local and international laws against Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and maintain robust information security practices. The guidelines also outline specific responsibilities for broadcasters, application service providers, and hardware manufacturers to support these measures. Service providers have 6 months to implement these measures, with compliance monitored quarterly by the CA.