Kenyans relying on Remotasks, an online tasking platform, to earn money by doing tasks related to AI, neural networks, and machine learning have been dealt a blow after the platform’s move to suspend its operations in the country.
For five days now, Kenyans formerly using the platform to complete tasks and earn money have aired their frustrations about the discontinuation that has rendered their accounts inaccessible.
Attempts to log onto the platform’s website for additional information about the discontinuation were unsuccessful, with the site responding with a message indicating “Sorry you have been blocked”.
In an email sent to users in Kenya, Remotasks informed the respective account holders of its decision to discontinue its operations in Kenya effective March 8.
As per the email, users with continuing projects were also discontinued from the platform. However, Remotasks assured that all pending payments would be sent to the holders and directed those with questions to contact its support system.
“We are reaching out with an important announcement regarding Remotasks operations in your location. We are discontinuing operations in your current location effective March 8, 2024,” part of the email shared by account holders read.
“As part of this change, you have been off boarded from your current project. You will receive payments associated with your work completed via the payment account set up on your profile.”
Also Read: Ruto Praises Young Kenyan Working for German Company
About remotasks
Remotasks is a platform that allows users to earn while doing data annotation, the process of remotely adding information to data in a bid to train artificial intelligence (AI) models.
Kenya was until the discontinuation among the countries in the world where Remotasks had offered citizens an opportunity to earn a living.
Whilst the exact reason for the suspension of accounts was not made public, Remotasks operates within a set of guidelines that stipulate instances in which an account can be suspended.
Among them, as per the information available on its website is creation of multiple accounts, falsely change of account information, inaccurately representing who you are, giving false location, or sharing account credentials with any other person.
In addition, poor quality of work, using third-party tools to complete tasks and using a VPN (a cybersecurity tool that encrypts your internet connection to hide your location) to access the platform could also lead to suspension.
Also Read: Finya Computer Itoe Dollar: How Ruto’s New Program Will Work
Digital Opportunities for Kenya
The discontinuation now deals a major blow to not only Kenyan youth who were previously reaping from the online tasks but also the government that has over the past few months emphasized the need to leverage digital jobs as a solution to unemployment.
President William Ruto had in February sparked a nationwide buzz after his viral remarks referring to a village named Taptengelei in Nandi County where he said youth had been earning in dollars at the convenience of their computers.
The remarks were a continuation of his agenda aimed at creating a digital highway to unlock job opportunities across the country as the nation grapples with unemployment among the youth.
Later in the month, the government launched the “Finya Computer Itoe Dollar” program which was aimed at helping to equip the youth with the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes for digital and online work.
