Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, nominated to be the ICT Cabinet Secretary, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, declared his intention to apply different approaches in dealing with harmful content on social media and the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Kabogo first acknowledged that Kenya was not the only country facing challenges involving the use of social media. He made reference of some of the developed nations which he argued were dealing with the same issue currently bedevilling the country.
If approved, he pledged to use the already established and constitutionally recognised mechanisms to address some of the issues including fake news, misinformation, cyberbullying and cyber attacks among others.
Specifically, Kabogo called for a regular review of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act to help tackle the challenges relating to social media.
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act in Kenya criminalizes a range of cybercrimes, including cyber espionage, phishing, and identity theft. The act’s goal is to protect the security and integrity of computer systems and data.
While quoting the act, Kabogo maintained that the law needed to be applied without violating the section of the constitution that gives Kenyans the freedom of expression and speech.
“The laws are there, we have, for example, the Computer Misuse law that governs such misuse. It is just the part of enforcement that needs to be improved and regular review of the law but also cognisant of the fact there is freedom of expression in Kenya and we have to strike a balance so that the freedom of one is not used to infringe on the freedom of others,” the nominee told National Assembly Committee on Appointments at Parliament buildings in Nairobi.
Use of AI
Kabogo’s vetting came at a time when several leaders were grappling with how best to deal with content modified and altered using AI and shared online.
Most leaders had raised concern especially after AI photos were shared depicting some of them in coffins including those targeting the head of state.
In his response to the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, Kabogo argued that engaging them was the best way of addressing the issue.
The former Kiambu governor maintained that explaining to the young people the repercussions of creating such AI-generated media and sharing online would be more helpful than rather clamping down on them without having a proper dialogue.
He maintained that after AI, new trends would emerge that could still lead to similar problems. He thus called for a long-term engagement to fix the issue.
“We should think about engaging the Gen Zs on how to have ethical use of cyberspace. In a couple of years, they will be fathers; If you put Kabogo in a coffin, at one time they will be fathers like me. How would they feel if their father was put in a coffin?” Kabogo posed.
Kabogo: We should think about engaging the Gen Zs on how to have ethical use of cyberspace. In a couple of years, they will be fathers; If you put Kabogo in a coffin, at one time they will be fathers like me. How would they feel if their father was put in a coffin?#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/phYIDmPTcm
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) January 14, 2025
His sentiments came days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen vowed to take action against the irresponsible use of social media.
