Kenya Film Classification Board chief executive Ezekiel Mutua when the
regulator banned the pro-gay music video Same Love. PHOTO | SALATON
NJAU
By STELLAR MURUMBA, smurumba@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
American tech giant, Google, has missed a one-week ultimatum to take down a pro-gay music video flagged as inappropriate.
Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB) chief executive
Ezekiel Mutua Tuesday said the board expected Google to bring down any
flagged content within a week of reporting, but that the company
remained non-committal on whether it would honour its request.
“I am reverting on this because the deadline ends
today (Wednesday) and the least we expected from Google was a reply
whether in the affirmative or not. It is important that Google makes a
step on this,” said Mr Mutua in an interview day.
The regulator said the assumption was that Google
was still holding internal consultations because “it could not be the
only case they are handling”. Mr Mutua said the move to censure the
video was in line with the board’s mandate based on the classifications
guidelines.
The KFCB banned the music video titled “Same Love”
by Art Attack (Kenyan artistes) claiming it was promoting homosexuality,
which is illegal in Kenya.
The video is still online, having attracted over 130,000 views on YouTube, a Google-owned platform.
The video which was uploaded on YouTube on February 15 contains sexual scenes between people of the same gender.
In an earlier interview, a Google spokesperson in the US told the Business Daily
that YouTube has clear policies which outline what content is
acceptable to post, adding that the company removes videos violating the
policies when flagged by users.
“We review government removal requests when
notified through the correct legal processes and in keeping with our
company philosophy on transparency and freedom of expression, we
disclose these requests in our transparency report,” said the Google
spokesperson in an email.
Google Kenya communications manager, Dorothy Ooko,
could not discuss the progress made by the company in regards to the
KFCB’s request, only replying that Google did “not have anything to say
right now”.
“Once a decision is made we shall communicate,” said Ms Ooko.
In an email reply, the composers of the
controversial song, Art Attack, said their intention was to create
awareness around lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) struggles
in Kenya.
They said it is “interesting that the old guys at
the KFCB were actually very instrumental in helping us get our message
across”.
Art Attack said they do not consider themselves criminals as intimated by the films board.
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