Mapping of legal framework and responses by actors to address harmful content online in Kenya
Build Up
(2022), iv, 47 pp.
CC BY-SA
"Although hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation have likely always existed in our societies, social media platforms have added a new dimension to the spread and access of harmful speech. This report details the legal framework / rule of law tools in place, and responses by the government, social media companies, and civil society to address illegal harmful content and potentially harmful content online in Kenya.<NZ>This research draws from 13 interviews with people active in Kenya's government and civil society, along with four workshops held in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa counties. The workshops attracted the participation of 105 actors and stakeholders from civil society, community-based organizations, technology companies, and representatives from line ministries and agencies in government. It also draws from trends gathered from Build Up' social media listening process, along with existing research, legislation, policies, and current events. The social media listening process focused on Twitter and Facebook, from 2017 to 2022, focusing on ethnic, political, and gender-based hateful narratives and peace messaging in the run-up to the next election cycle in August 2022.The literature review and interviews focused on existing legislation or company policies that address hate speech and misinformation, along with actions taken by government agencies, civil society, and technology companies to address related hate speech and misinformation narratives." (Introduction, p.1 & Methodology, p.5)
Contents
Introduction, 1
About social media 4 peace, 4
Methodology, 5
Overview of social media and harmful speech trends in Kenya, 6
Overview of the legal framework for addressing harmful speech in Kenya, 9
Definitions of harmful speech and the limits to defining harmful speech, 16
Hate Speech, Disinformation, and Misinformation Signal Much Deeper-Rooted Issues in Our Societies -- Hate Speech, Misinformation, and Disinformation Are Interrelated - Definitions of Harmful Speech within International Legislation - Definitions of Harmful Speech within Kenyan Legislation - Definitions of Harmful Speech by Meta and Twitter
Responses to harmful speech on social media by government, technology companies and civil society, 23
Monitoring and Enforcement -- Monitoring and Enforcement by the Kenyan Government -- Monitoring and Enforcement by Social Media companies -- Monitoring and Interventions by Kenyan Civil society -- Social Media Education -- Peacebuilding
Recommendations across actors, 39
Kenyan Government Institutions, Actions and Legislation -- Social Media Companies -- Civil Society Organizations
References, 44
About social media 4 peace, 4
Methodology, 5
Overview of social media and harmful speech trends in Kenya, 6
Overview of the legal framework for addressing harmful speech in Kenya, 9
Definitions of harmful speech and the limits to defining harmful speech, 16
Hate Speech, Disinformation, and Misinformation Signal Much Deeper-Rooted Issues in Our Societies -- Hate Speech, Misinformation, and Disinformation Are Interrelated - Definitions of Harmful Speech within International Legislation - Definitions of Harmful Speech within Kenyan Legislation - Definitions of Harmful Speech by Meta and Twitter
Responses to harmful speech on social media by government, technology companies and civil society, 23
Monitoring and Enforcement -- Monitoring and Enforcement by the Kenyan Government -- Monitoring and Enforcement by Social Media companies -- Monitoring and Interventions by Kenyan Civil society -- Social Media Education -- Peacebuilding
Recommendations across actors, 39
Kenyan Government Institutions, Actions and Legislation -- Social Media Companies -- Civil Society Organizations
References, 44
