Parents in Kenya are set to gain more control over what their children see online and how long they stay connected, as major internet service providers prepare parental control tools for home broadband and mobile users.
The development was reported on 2018-11-21, when Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya and Jamii Telecom signed a charter under the GSM Association to work with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on child online safety.
Safaricom Director for Corporate Affairs Stephen Chege said the company was finalising a feature that would let parents apply filters and restrict what children access on the internet.
Jamii Telcom managing director John Kamau said mobile phones give parents less control than fixed-line connections. “If you have a fixed line internet you can just switch it off, but if your child has a mobile phone, then you have less control,” he said.
He added that the company would launch a product that limits both the time spent online and the content consumed.
The industry move is aimed at reducing children’s exposure to cyber-bullying, pornography and online scams. The pact also commits the CA and the operators to education and awareness programmes designed to curb online abuse.
Telkom Kenya chief legal and regulatory officer Clare Ruto said the challenge of building a safer internet would remain pressing because children now have greater access to the internet and are more digitally aware than previous generations.
GSMA head of sub-Saharan Africa Akinwale Goodluck said Kenya was the first country in Africa to sign the Child Online Protection charter, describing it as evidence that mobile service providers and the regulator want a safer and more reliable online experience for young users.
The charter is expected to shape future safety measures for families using fixed or mobile broadband in their homes.
