Mombasa: Mombasa County Commissioner Mohammed Noor has cautioned the youth against misusing the internet, especially through trolling via social platforms, reiterating that such action is a violation of human rights. Speaking during the Annual Data Privacy Conference 2025 at the School of Government Mombasa, the County Commissioner called on parents to encourage their children to utilize the internet in an ethical manner in a way that will contribute to the country's development.
According to Kenya News Agency, Noor highlighted ongoing challenges on platforms such as Twitter and TikTok, where Kenyan youth have been misusing the internet. This misuse includes sharing personal contacts without consent and spreading false news, including fake death information. Noor emphasized the importance of using freedom of speech ethically to avoid violating others' rights and potential legal consequences.
The conference, themed 'Safeguarding Personal Data to Spur Digital Transformation and Economic Development,' was spearheaded by the Office of Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC). It aimed to address challenges facing data handlers and explore ways to enhance data privacy to prevent criminal acts and cyberbullying, among other issues.
Rosie Mosero, Deputy Data Commissioner at the Head of Compliance Directorate ODPC, noted that the forum involved significant discussions about the future focus of data protection in light of technological advancements, new laws, and the upcoming adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She reported that ODPC has handled over 6,800 complaints from individuals and over 8,000 registrations of data processing organizations since its inception four years ago, indicating a growing recognition of data protection's importance among Kenyans.
Mosero also mentioned that audits conducted by the Commission have shown an increased willingness by organizations to build compliance with data protection acts. The Commission plans to roll out a national advocacy programme targeting at least 120 constituencies to reach a significant number of data controllers and processors.
The Office of Data Protection Commissioner is tasked with regulating personal data processing, ensuring compliance with the principles outlined in section 25 of the Data Protection Act, protecting individual privacy, establishing legal mechanisms for data protection, and providing data subjects with rights and remedies against unlawful data processing.