Registering minors to these services to cost Ksh300,000 fine
By Moses Ngahu
In a move to restrict the exposure of minors to online misconduct including the spread of hate speech, cybercrime, and pornography, parents and telecom firms risk a fine of Ksh300,000 for the registration of children’s phones and Sim Cards.
The move will allow parents to provide the identity of the children while registering Sim Cards especially if the kid in question is a minor. This is after the new proposed Internet safety guidelines were released last week for public debate.
The move is seen as an upgrade to the current model which allows the parents to use their credentials to register SIM cards for their children. This listing will for the first time offer the regulator a registry of children using smartphones in what is being considered a push to minimize online risks to minors and how they participate in virtual crimes.
[caption id="attachment_11903" align="alignnone" width="975"]
File image of a person using a mobile phone. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
There are benefits of being online which can offer young people exposure to educational content as well as dangers and setbacks. Such dangers include cyberbullying, contact with unwanted adults contents, and exposure to disturbing content.
With the move, Child Online Protection and Safety Guidelines will therefore be demanding that all telecoms, app developers and Internet service providers verify the age of the user before accepting any new registration or user. With the aim to offer children better protection from explicit materials, patents or new users will be forced to verify their age through third-party services.
"Mobile service providers in the development of age verification process will ensure that all SIM cards being used by children or minors be registered," the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) says in a statement.
The move will also see mobile phones subscribers understand the need to register their SIM cards well as declare the intended subscribers of the SIM cards.
The usage of all smartphones and tablets among minors has recently increased due to the fall in the cost of devices. The Vatican has also contributed to the case stating that children have recently increased the use of smartphones and tablets and access to digital pornography. The Vatican has called for a global call for all technology firms to curb the easy access to pornography sites and contents. This guideline will force vendors selling smartphones and tablets additional burden as they try to curb the access of such materials.
Last year, the State tabled a Bill that was seeking to penalize anyone using online platforms to lure children to crimes such as prostitution and drug abuse including a Ksh2 million fine in jail.
Majority leader Amos Kimunya had tabled the Bill back in 2021 seeking to boost protection by targeting online predators who use different tactics to lure children.
File image of a person using a mobile phone. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
There are benefits of being online which can offer young people exposure to educational content as well as dangers and setbacks. Such dangers include cyberbullying, contact with unwanted adults contents, and exposure to disturbing content.
With the move, Child Online Protection and Safety Guidelines will therefore be demanding that all telecoms, app developers and Internet service providers verify the age of the user before accepting any new registration or user. With the aim to offer children better protection from explicit materials, patents or new users will be forced to verify their age through third-party services.
"Mobile service providers in the development of age verification process will ensure that all SIM cards being used by children or minors be registered," the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) says in a statement.
The move will also see mobile phones subscribers understand the need to register their SIM cards well as declare the intended subscribers of the SIM cards.
The usage of all smartphones and tablets among minors has recently increased due to the fall in the cost of devices. The Vatican has also contributed to the case stating that children have recently increased the use of smartphones and tablets and access to digital pornography. The Vatican has called for a global call for all technology firms to curb the easy access to pornography sites and contents. This guideline will force vendors selling smartphones and tablets additional burden as they try to curb the access of such materials.
Last year, the State tabled a Bill that was seeking to penalize anyone using online platforms to lure children to crimes such as prostitution and drug abuse including a Ksh2 million fine in jail.
Majority leader Amos Kimunya had tabled the Bill back in 2021 seeking to boost protection by targeting online predators who use different tactics to lure children. What's Your Reaction?
