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Human rights

Kenya's President Ruto Signs Controversial Law Granting Tech Companies Immunity from Lawsuits

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President William Ruto's decision to sign a Bill into law that would grant tech companies immunity from lawsuits has sparked widespread outrage among Kenyan digital workers. The legislation, known as the Business Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, was passed by the Senate without public consultation, disregarding the concerns of workers who would be most affected by the law. The law aims to oversee digital labor in the country, but workers argue that it will only protect foreign companies at the expense of Kenyan workers, who are often mistreated.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Business Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, signed into law by President Ruto, grants tech companies immunity from lawsuits.
  • The law was passed by the Senate without public consultation, despite workers' requests to present their concerns.
  • Workers argue that the law will only protect foreign companies and not safeguard their rights.
  • The law will now head to the National Assembly for review.
  • Tech workers from various associations have protested the Senate's approval of the Bill, citing concerns over its impact on workers' rights.
  • The workers have threatened to challenge the law in court if Parliament fails to take satisfactory corrective action.
  • A similar lawsuit against Meta and Sama, a content moderation company, has been ongoing for three years, with employees alleging human rights violations.
  • The Sama case could set a new precedent in Kenyan law, making Big Tech companies liable for wrongdoing inside subcontracted facilities.

Statistics:

  • Employees hired by a contractor at a Meta content moderation facility in Nairobi were paid as little as $1.50 per hour.
  • The Business Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed into law on August 7, 2024, without a committee report.
  • Tech workers from various associations have submitted four detailed memoranda proposing essential changes to the Bill, but none were taken into account.
  • The legislation aims to oversee digital labor in Kenya, but workers argue that it will only protect foreign companies.

Sources:

  • "Kenya's President Signs Law Granting Tech Companies Immunity from Lawsuits", The EastAfrican, 2024.
  • The Business Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, Senate of Kenya, 2024.
  • "Kenyan Digital Workers Protest Senate's Approval of Controversial Bill", The EastAfrican, 2024.
  • "New Study Reveals Exploitation of Kenyan Content Moderators", Tech Workers Movement, 2024.
  • "Kenyan President's Decision to Sign Bill Sparks Outrage", Daily Nation, 2024.

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