KBC Channel 1

Tag: Safety

  • TikTok bans 60,465 Kenyan accounts for violating guidelines

    TikTok bans 60,465 Kenyan accounts for violating guidelines

    TikTok says it removed a total of 60,465 Kenyan accounts from the platform between April and June this year for violating community guidelines.

    TikTok second quarter Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for Kenya further shows that the short video platform removed another 57,262 accounts in Kenya which were suspected to be run by users under the age of 13.

    Globally, TikTok says a total of 178.8 million were removed globally out of which 144.4 million were removed through automation. Only 5.4 million vides were restored.

    “With over a billion people and millions of pieces of content posted to our platform every day, we continue to prioritize and enhance TikTok’s automated moderation technology as such technology enables faster and consistent removal of content that violates our rules,” said the firm.

    In Kenya at least 360,000 videos were removed from the platform which is 0.3pc of the total videos uploaded in the country in the latest reporting period.

    According to the firm 99.1pc of the videos were proactively removed before users reported them, with 95pc taken down within 24 hours.

    “We invest in technologies that improve content understanding and predict potential risks so that we can take action on violative content before it’s viewed. These technical investments also reduce the volume of content that moderators review, helping minimize human exposure to violative content. As a result, automated technology now removes 80% of violative videos, up from 62% a year ago,” said TikTok in the report.

    Of the total number of content removed, 31pc involved sensitive and mature themes, 27.9pc regulated goods and commercial activities, 19.1pc mental and behavioral health, 15.1pc safety and civility, 4.7pc privacy and security and 2.1pc integrity and authenticity.

  • TikTok sets up eight member safety advisory council in SSA

    TikTok sets up eight member safety advisory council in SSA

    Short video social platform, TikTok, has established its first safety advisory council in the sub-Saharan region.

    The Safety Advisory Council is tasked with enhancing safety among users and content creators on the platform.

    The council consists of Lillian Kariuki who is the Founder and Executive Director of Watoto Watch Network in Kenya, Prof Guy Berger of Rhodes University South Africa, Ghanaian content creator Dennis Coffie and Peter Cunliffe-Jones, University of Westminster Visiting Research Fellow from the United Kingdom.

    Other are Senegalese Aisha Dabo who is the Co-founder and coordinator of AfricTivistes, Dr Akinola Olojo, Expert on preventing and countering violent extremism from Nigeria and · Ethiopia’s Prof Medhane Tadesse, Policy academic on peace and security issues and Berhan Taye, an independent researcher.

    Speaking at the TikTok Safety Summit held in Nairobi,TikTok Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda said the council is part of its safety network established in 2020 globally to tackle issues such as free speech, hate speech, misinformation, sexually suggestive content and child safety.

    “The safety advisory council are external advisors,” said Mgwili-Sibanda.

    “They are the ones who are going to help us not just to deal with the current challenges but to think ahead of the curve in terms of what could be the emerging issues,” he added.

    The sub-Saharan advisory council is part of the nine councils TikTok has established worldwide.

    “We will meet regularly on what the trends are and give us advice and one thing we have said to them is that we want candid advice,” stated Mgwili-Sibanda.

    The tech giant says it has also deployed Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies which have improve safety on the platform.

    Kenya is one of TikTok’s top markets in Africa with at least 10.6 million active users out of its more than one billion users worldwide.

    The firm has also embarked on the #SaferTogether campaign which is designed to engage the community actively in promoting a basic understanding of the platform’s community guidelines and safety features.

    The campaign has been conducted in 26 counties in Kenya and has reached 64,000 students, more than 467 parents, and 346 teachers.

  • EPRA enhances petroleum products safety in Machakos 

    EPRA enhances petroleum products safety in Machakos 

    The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has called on petroleum products retailers in Machakos County to ensure they operate within the safety standards as prescribed in the law.

    The authority on Tuesday conducted a safety and security public sensitization on energy and petroleum matters with National Government security administration teams from Machakos and Athi River with the aim of boosting compliance in the region.

    The workshop focused on electricity and petroleum surveillance, compliance, and enforcement which is to be enhanced through collaboration betwen the two bodies.

    Consequently, the security teams were briefed on safety measures outlined in the LPG regulations 2019, including tracking cylinders throughout the distribution chain to enhance accountability and traceability.

    According to EPRA, LPG retailers and cylinder transporters are required by regulations to obtain licenses from the Authority. These regulations also ensure consumer insurance against gas-related accidents.

    Furthermore, LPG retailers must issue receipts for each cylinder sold, enhancing safety and accountability along the supply chain.

    Additionally the workshop sought to establish a framework for sustainable and clean energy initiatives in both sectors.

    This reflects the Authority’s ongoing commitment to increasing public awareness, enforcing regulations, and safeguarding consumers from energy and petroleum malpractices.

    EPRA Deputy Director for Public Education and Advocacy Anne Kiprotich said such initiatives are key in ensuring safety and compliance in handling petroleum products. The authority also seeks to prevent injuries and property losses emanating from LPG and electricity.

    “We must ensure safety and compliance when dealing with petroleum products, LPG and electricity to prevent injuries, loss of life, and property,” Kiprotich said.

    “This is why we are conducting this capacity-building today in Athi River & Machakos Town. We are replicating these sensitisations across the week within various constituencies with Machakos County,” she added.

    According to Kiprotich, this initiative ensures compliance with policies, guidelines, and regulations to mitigate risks associated with LPG malpractices, illegal electricity connections, unsafe handling of petroleum products, and solar PV system installations.

  • Boeing faces new inquiry over 787 inspection doubts

    Boeing faces new inquiry over 787 inspection doubts

    The US has opened a new inquiry into troubled jet firm Boeing, after the company told air safety regulators that it might not have properly inspected its 787 Dreamliner planes.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would look into whether staff had falsified records.

    It said Boeing was reinspecting all 787 jets still on the manufacturing line.

    Boeing will be forced to develop an “action plan” to address concerns about planes already in service, it added.

    Boeing did not comment.

    Internally, it told staff last week that the “misconduct” had not created an “immediate safety of flight issue”, according to a message seen by BBC News.

    “We quickly reviewed the matter and learned that several people had been violating company policies by not performing a required test, but recording the work as having been completed,” Scott Stocker, head of the Boeing 787 program, said in the email to staff.

    The FAA said that Boeing had come forward “voluntarily” last month to warn that it “may not have completed” inspections required to confirm adequate electrical safeguards where the wings join the main body of certain of its 787 Dreamliners, a large jet often used on international flights.

    “The FAA is investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records,” it said.

    “As the investigation continues, the FAA will take any necessary action – as always – to ensure the safety of the flying public.”

    It is the latest problem to erupt at Boeing since January, when an unused emergency exit door blew off a new 737 Max 9 plane shortly after take-off, thrusting its manufacturing and safety processes into the spotlight.

    The incident prompted the temporary grounding of dozens of planes and has forced the firm to drastically slow production, while sparking increased regulatory oversight, criminal investigation and other legal and financial troubles.

    In March, chief executive Dave Calhoun said he would be stepping down by the end of the year, becoming the most high-profile person to exit the company in the wake of the incident.

    Last month, Congress hosted a hearing featuring whistleblowers, including Sam Salehpour who testified that his concerns about the 787 had been dismissed.

    Boeing has said it is working to reform its corporate culture to encourage people who see problems to speak out, with a “more than 500% increase” in reports from employees since January.

  • EPRA develops electricity regulations to enhance safety

    EPRA develops electricity regulations to enhance safety

    The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has developed guidelines that will prioritise safety among independent energy companies, personnel and electricity consumers.

    The Energy (Electricity Incident and Accident Reporting) Regulations, 2024 also establish a structured framework for incident and accident reporting by defining clear guidelines for reporting them, establishing timelines for notification and submission of reports, requiring licensees to have insurance coverage for liability claims, and outlining fines for non-compliance.

    “As we continue to see growth in the number of connections to the grid and investments in the electricity sector, these regulations provide an anticipatory approach to safety for everyone involved. In fulfilment of our mandate to ensure safety and quality in the energy sector, they(licencees) will promote the health and safety of electrical workers and consumers while also promoting accountability when incidents or accidents cause harm to people, animals, property or the environment,” said Kiptoo Bargoria, EPRA Director General during a validation workshop in Nairobi.

    The draft regulations require EPRA to set up an online system that makes it easier for licensees through their designated Responsible Person and members of the public to report incidents or accidents as guided by the framework.

    In case of an incident, a Responsible Person should constitute a competent team that shall carry out an investigation and submit a report to the Authority within thirty days from the date of its occurrence.

    This comes after the development of separate regulations that will allow private sector investors to participate in generation, exportation, importation, transmission, distribution and retail supply of electricity.

  • Boeing review finds ‘disconnect’ on safety

    Boeing review finds ‘disconnect’ on safety

    A new report for the US government has raised serious concerns about Boeing’s safety management systems, adding to the scrutiny facing the US plane maker.

    The review found a “disconnect” between senior management and regular staff, and signs that safety-related messages and behaviours were not effectively implemented across the company.

    The report was ordered after crashes involving Boeing planes in 2018 and 2019.

    Boeing pledged to review the findings.

    “We’ve taken important steps to foster a safety culture that empowers and encourages all employees to share their voice. But there is more work to do,” the company said.

    “We will carefully review the panel’s assessment and learn from their findings, as we continue our comprehensive efforts to improve our safety and quality programs.”

    The company, one of two major global plane makers, has been under added pressure since last month, when a section of one of its passenger jets blew off in mid-air, forcing an emergency landing.

    The incident, which narrowly avoided serious harm, revived questions about Boeing’s manufacturing processes, years after the 2018 and 2019 accidents, which killed 346 people and led to accusations that the company had put profits before safety as it produced its planes.

    The panel of experts, which was convened after the earlier crashes, said Boeing had taken steps to improve, but that it saw indications of “gaps in Boeing’s safety journey”.

    It said some Boeing staff were hesitant to report problems and worried about retaliation because of how the reporting process was set up.

    Boeing also did not have a clear system for reporting problems and tracking how those concerns were resolved, it said.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would also review the findings.

    The agency is currently investigating Boeing’s manufacturing processes, triggered by the 5 January blowout. It has barred the company from expanding production of its popular 737 Max planes while the review is under way.

    “We will continue to hold Boeing to the highest standard of safety and will work to ensure the company comprehensively addresses these recommendations,” the FAA said as it released the report.

    The troubles at Boeing are expected to lead to delays delivering new planes to airlines, which Ryanair has said could cause ticket prices to rise. Other airlines have also voiced frustration over the issues.

    Earlier this month, Boeing said it was replacing the person in charge of the 737 Max programme and creating a new position of senior vice president for quality.