CA Target Parents In A Move To Protect Children From Digital abuse.
The Communications Authority (CA) has taken a bold step to protect children from digital abuse.
The authority announced in a set of new guidelines titled Industry Guidelines For Child Online Protection and Safety In Kenya that it was looking to set up a database to cater for children using SIM cards in the country.
Currently, most children under the age of 18 who own mobile phones have their SIM cards registered by their parents or guardians.
According to the newly proposed guidelines, parents and guardians will be expected to reveal the identity of minors using handsets.
“In addition to the aforementioned guidelines, mobile service providers will ensure that all SIM cards used by children/minors are registered in accordance with the provisions of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, and the Kenya Information and Communications (Registration of SlM-cards) Regulations, 2015.
"Mobile phone subscribers/customers are informed of the need to appropriately register their sim cards and declare the intended subscribers/customers of the SIM cards,” read the guidelines in part.
If adopted, the proposed guidelines would be a departure from a section of the Kenya Information and Communications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulations, 2015, which required minors to be accompanied by their parents or guardians when registering a SIM card.
The law at the time required an adult to register the SIM card under their name until the minor attained the legal age of 18.
The proposed law also imposes severe penalties on guardians and mobile phone operators who fail to comply.
With concerns that minors are being exposed to adult content, hate speech, and cyberbullying, the issue of protecting children from online abuse has gained traction around the world.
This comes as the government announced a mass switch-off aimed at mobile users who have not complied with registration regulations.
At the time, the Communications Authority revealed that subscribers registered their sim cards without providing their photos or correct identification details.
“A person who commits an offense under these Regulations for which no specific penalty has been provided in the Act shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both,” read the law.
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According to the regulator, the switch-off will be fully implemented by April 15.
CA Target Parents In A Move To Protect Children From Digital abuse.
