Making Big Tech Accountable In Kenya

The Council for Responsible Social Media is a multi-sectoral coalition of human rights activists who wish to secure a safe and equitable digital future for the African society by addressing digital harms from social media and emerging digital technologies. The Council does this by holding Big Tech accountable, challenging digital colonialism and marginalization, and advocating for local innovation that reflects African social, economic, and cultural values, informed by feminist tech principles.

Our Mission

We empower African communities to harness digital technologies safely and equitably by challenging the prevalence of digital harms, including gendered disinformation, digital colonialism, consumer scams, and threats to democracy. We do this by holding Big Tech accountable to the African users and demanding global standards of user protection and corporate responsibility across the continent.

What We Do

The Council for Responsible Social Media employs a multi-faceted approach to achieving its objectives, including policy advocacy, strategic partnerships, stakeholder capacity development, research-based evidence generation, strategic litigation, and other actions to create a safe and secure digital ecosystem for the African society.

Get Involved

In Africa, marginalized and vulnerable communities face heightened risks from unaccountable Big Tech. But together, we can create change. Join us in demanding a more responsible and accountable tech industry, one that prioritizes human rights and protects those most at risk. Your support is crucial to amplifying our voice and building a safer digital future for all.

Reports

Over the years we’ve reported on the state of Big Tech. The challenges that we’re facing today are not new to us. We’ve been in this dialogue for years as a champion of the people, working to make tech a safe place. Interested in partnering together on research? Reach out to us.

Big Tech Harms Disseminated
This study seeks to understand the public's opinion on mis/disinformation and hate speech as influenced by major social media platforms in Kenya, with the intent to identify opportunities for positive change.

Online Gender Disinformation
This report considers Gendered Disinformation as “the spread of deceptive or inaccurate information and images against women political leaders, journalists and female public figures" as fueled by misogyny and societal stereotypes.

Public Opinion Research on Mis/Disinformation
The study's main objective was to understand public opinion on mis/disinformation and hate speech the impact of social/digital media communications platforms in Kenya, and identify possible remedies.

Resources

Organizations around the world are working to hold Big Tech accountable. We’re highlighting some of the resources that we’ve curated from other Partner organizations and institutes who are making progress in holding Big Tech accountable.

Risk to Minors Explored
Studies demonstrate that social media platforms can pose significant risks to minors through the systemic and algorithmic promotion of harmful content which includes targeted pro-suicide and eating disorder messaging.

Islamic State Networks on Facebook
Researchers at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) led a two-year investigation into the online media ecosystem of al-Shabaab and the Islamic State in Africa in an effort to analyze the role of “independent news” outlets.

The Digital Services Act
The Digital Services Act is a legislative initiative which seeks to regulate online intermediaries and platforms such as marketplaces, social networks, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms.

News + Events

CRSM Joining Global Events this November

This month the Council for Responsible Social Media will participate in two global events- the International Civil Society Week in Thailand and the Copenhagen Conference on Information Integrity in Denmark. Learn more about each of these upcoming events below.

Upcoming Event: CRSM joins global voices at International Civil Society Week, November 2025

The Council for Responsible Social Media (CRSM) is honored to be represented at the upcoming International Civil Society Week (ICSW) taking place from November 1 to 5, 2025, in Bangkok. This flagship global event unites civil society actors across the world to celebrate and strategize around crucial issues of democracy, rights, and inclusion. CRSM's participation underscores the importance of digital rights advocacy in today's interconnected world, especially within the African context where digital transformations are rapidly reshaping society.

Upcoming Event: CRSM speaking at Copenhagen Conference, November 2025
The Council for Responsible Social Media (CRSM) will be proudly represented at the upcoming Copenhagen Conference on Information Integrity, taking place on November 11–12, 2025, at UN City in Copenhagen. This pivotal event, co-organized by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Digital Democracy Initiative, and International Media Support, focuses on building and scaling alternative platforms and solutions to counter disinformation and strengthen democratic resilience. CRSM's participation highlights its commitment to advancing digital integrity, safety, and security—key concerns as disinformation campaigns increasingly threaten public discourse globally and especially within Africa.

Past Event: CRSM attends the RightsCon Summit 2025
Taipei was the global stage for the future of human rights discourse during the RightsCon 2025. The Council for Responsible Social Media was there, joining a powerful coalition of international activists to champion dignity and freedom in our connected world. Hosted in a city renowned for its technological innovation and stunning landscape, the summit provided a crucial platform for shaping digital-age advocacy.

News: Kenya court finds Meta can be sued over moderator layoffs, September 2024
Kenya responds to Meta's move away from Content Moderators with a court case that aims to hold the major social media platform accountable.

Stay Connected

We want to hear from you! Reach out to share your personal story or to stay connected on our latest news & events. Have you experienced harm from Big Tech? Do you want to be part of the change? Let’s stay connected. Don’t worry, your data is safe with us. We won’t share or sell the contact information that you provide.

Reach out to us directly: [email protected]