The report alleges that authorities used digital platforms to intimidate, monitor and silence young activists who led some of the largest protests the country has seen in recent years.
The report, titled “This fear, everyone is feeling it”: Tech-facilitated violence against young activists in Kenya, highlights what Amnesty describes as a sophisticated digital strategy aimed at weakening online activism.
The report, titled “This fear, everyone is feeling it”: Tech-facilitated violence against young activists in Kenya, highlights what Amnesty describes as a sophisticated digital strategy aimed at weakening online activism.
According to the report, state-linked actors allegedly weaponised social media tools to disrupt conversations, spread fear and push pro-government narratives at the height of the protests.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said their analysis uncovered “widespread and coordinated tactics on digital platforms to silence and suppress protests.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said their analysis uncovered “widespread and coordinated tactics on digital platforms to silence and suppress protests.”
She noted that the digital environment had been deliberately manipulated to drown out the voices of young Kenyans demanding accountability and reforms.
The report alleges that popular platforms including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Instagram were flooded with state-backed trolls and bloggers who pushed smear campaigns, insults and misinformation targeting activist accounts.
The report alleges that popular platforms including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Instagram were flooded with state-backed trolls and bloggers who pushed smear campaigns, insults and misinformation targeting activist accounts.
These accounts, according to Amnesty, used threats and intimidation to discourage young people from posting or organising online.
Researchers claim that the aim of the operation was twofold: to bury protest-related content and to promote messages that portrayed the government in a favourable light during a period when Kenya was under close global scrutiny.
Researchers claim that the aim of the operation was twofold: to bury protest-related content and to promote messages that portrayed the government in a favourable light during a period when Kenya was under close global scrutiny.
By overwhelming social media algorithms with pro-government posts, the alleged troll networks made it harder for protest hashtags to gain traction or reach wider audiences.
At the height of the Gen Z movement in June 2024, several hashtags such as #Occupy and #RejectFinanceBill dominated online platforms as young Kenyans shared updates, coordinated marches and exposed incidents of police brutality.
At the height of the Gen Z movement in June 2024, several hashtags such as #Occupy and #RejectFinanceBill dominated online platforms as young Kenyans shared updates, coordinated marches and exposed incidents of police brutality.
Amnesty says that in response, the authorities allegedly launched a counter-campaign designed to push these hashtags out of trending lists by flooding timelines with unrelated or misleading content.
The report goes beyond digital manipulation and alleges that online harassment often escalated into real-world danger. Some activists reportedly received threatening messages such as,
The report goes beyond digital manipulation and alleges that online harassment often escalated into real-world danger. Some activists reportedly received threatening messages such as,
“We are coming for you.” Amnesty says a number of individuals later disappeared under unclear circumstances, raising concerns about enforced disappearances linked to online surveillance.
Human rights defender Hanifa Adan is one of the individuals mentioned in the report. She is said to have endured doxxing, abusive language and body-shaming from dozens of accounts believed to be connected to the operation.
Human rights defender Hanifa Adan is one of the individuals mentioned in the report. She is said to have endured doxxing, abusive language and body-shaming from dozens of accounts believed to be connected to the operation.
According to Amnesty, the harassment deeply affected her mental well-being and ability to engage in activism.
Amnesty International has called on the government to investigate all claims of tech-facilitated violence, hold those involved accountable and ensure digital platforms remain safe for public discourse.
Amnesty International has called on the government to investigate all claims of tech-facilitated violence, hold those involved accountable and ensure digital platforms remain safe for public discourse.
The organisation argues that the right to free expression and peaceful assembly must be protected both offline and online.
The Kenyan government had not issued an official response to the report by the time of publication.
The Kenyan government had not issued an official response to the report by the time of publication.
