TikTok has launched an election hub ahead of the August 9 elections in a bid to tame misinformation and disinformation on the social network platform.
In a statement dated Thursday, July 14, TikTok stated that the Kenya Election hub would help Kenyans get verified information regarding the polls, noting that many Kenyans were on the platform.
Further, accounts spreading false information and hateful content will be flagged in the new move.
"We have launched an in-app guide to the 2022 General Election product features and hosted in-market activities to support our vision to help our community access factual and authoritative information about the Kenyan General Election ahead of August 9.
"These efforts are part of our commitment to curb misinformation and ensure that information is disseminated responsibly," read TikTok's statement in part.
Additionally, as part of the access to information, TikTok stated that it had partnered with various institutions to hold live sessions on the elections.
"As part of the initiative, we launched a three-part series titled #TikTokForPeace in partnership with Article19 which is a series of TikTok live sessions hosted at Strathmore University, Policy Innovation Centre featuring key opinion formers in government, civil society and academia," added the social network.
The live streams will be held on July 18 and 19.
On the other hand, TikTok’s Government Relations Officer, Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, stated that the platform was aiming at bridging peace among Kenyans during the electioneering period.
"We are engaging with diverse stakeholders in Kenya to discuss opportunities and challenges for dynamic solutions in a fast-paced digital world. Our resolve is to spread positive vibes in markets where we operate as we promote peaceful coexistence,” Sibanda stated.
Social media has been on the spot with many accounts being flagged for allegedly spreading hate speech during elections.
In June, a report by Mozilla Fellow, Odanga Madung, named 130 accounts in the country that were spreading fake news.
"Several manipulated pieces of content were identified on the platform and were widely viewed, like a fake Kenya Television Network (KTN) news bulletin with a fake opinion poll and dubbed narration; a video showing a fake Joe Biden tweet; a fake Netflix documentary with dubbed narration and various false newspaper covers. These videos garnered over 342,000 views on TikTok," Odanga's report read in part.
