May 2016 - KICTANet

Is Facebook biased on its newsfeed?
by Ali Hussein 14 May '16

14 May '16

Listers This mail is coped from the Fortune.com Data Sheet. The “Trending” topics section of Facebook seems such a trivial thing, and in many ways it is. It looks and feels like an afterthought—ironically, it started as an attempt to copy Twitter—and many users probably don’t even notice it’s there. But now, it has triggered a national discussion around bias and the power of social platforms. In case you missed the brouhaha, it started with a report from Gizmodo that profileda team of anonymous journalists working at Facebook who curate the news that shows up in the Trending section. A subsequent report quoted one of the journalists as saying the team routinely removed certain right-wing political sites from the section, even when the social network’s data showed they were trending. The revelation seemed harmless enough, at first: Journalists hired to edit things were actually editing them! But the comment soon snowballed into a debate over Facebook’s role in news consumption, and whether its sheer size and influence brings with it some level of responsibility. Facebook responded to the story by saying that its policy is to remain as neutral as possible editorially, and that it will look into reports of misbehavior. Then it issued a second, even more heartfelt response, after the Senate Commerce Committee sent a letter asking the company to answer some questions around political influence and the Trending section. The real issue, of course, isn’t the tiny section of the Facebook home page that follows trending topics. It’s the fact that the kind of editorial selection those journalists engaged in is happening every minute of every day on the main news feed, courtesy of the Facebook ranking algorithm. And that algorithm, since it is programmed by human beings, inevitably contains biases of all kinds. The bottom line is that Facebook is more than just a social network where people exchange photos of their pets—it is the largest and most influential media entity the world has ever seen. The sooner Facebook acknowledges that, and becomes part of the discussion around how it can manage its social responsibilities, the better off we will all be. Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi Sent from my iPad

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Fwd: [Internet Policy] Now business wants to lead policy making
by Barrack Otieno 13 May '16

13 May '16

Dear Listers, Might be of interest to some of us. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: parminder <parminder(a)itforchange.net> Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 11:26:22 +0530 Subject: [Internet Policy] Now business wants to lead policy making To: "internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org" <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> A recent announcement by Alibaba's founder Jack Ma exposes what the real intent, and the problem, with business led multistakeholderism is, something a lot of people/ groups have perhaps innocently got into supporting.... He proposes a new business led initiative to frame global e-commerce rules, which would rival the WTO, which can keep making them for offline trade. And he is entirely serious, with Alibaba already working with a number of groups and intending to present the proposal to G 20 later this year.. To me it is a political shocker, but that is where much of multistakholderism ideology is headed. I wrote an op-ed on this issue in The Hindu, which is at http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/a-borderless-economy-that-will-be-c… We must re-assess what does unhinging of the role of legitimate political actors in key public policy areas means. It just transfers power to a few global corporates to runs our societies as a corporatocracy. Many of our discussions here on mulitistakeholderism as a sovereign political form need to be seen in this context. parminder _______________________________________________ To manage your ISOC subscriptions or unsubscribe, please log into the ISOC Member Portal: https://portal.isoc.org/ Then choose Interests & Subscriptions from the My Account menu. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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How Russia and China Are Cooperating to Dismantle America's Dominance of the Internet
by Ali Hussein 13 May '16

13 May '16

Listers So the Balkanization of the Internet is continuing apace despite efforts to slow it down or eliminate it. And the main culprits? The US, Russia and China. Excerpts from an article on this issue. Should we care? Should we as Kenyans also follow the example of these Super Powers? Did the Cold War even end? Moscow and Beijing, deeply resentful of American power, are again finding ideological common cause, jointly aiming at two pillars of the post-Cold War dispensation: a borderless Internet and international civil society. They are doing so on the declared basis of national sovereignty. Modern nationalism has proved much sturdier than Communist internationalism; besides, the jaded, if not cynical, Sino-Russian approach to globalization has more than an echo of resurgent nationalism in the West itself, not least with regard to the Internet. If this is not quite a Cold War, it is hard to see how such trends can lead, in any way, to peace or to prosperity. Read on:- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-malcomson/russia-china-internet_b_98416… Regards Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi Sent from my iPad

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 108, Issue 27
by powell omondi 12 May '16

12 May '16

well in this particular case it is the algorithm that was set by Facebook, but for the Microsoft bot Tay was as a result of the machine learning, it was learning and developing as it interacted with other users on twitter.( Cognitive thinking) KIND REGARDS, FELIX POWEL OMONDI *+254718048029* *powelyomondy(a)gmail.com <powelyomondy(a)gmail.com>* *“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” * On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 6:48 PM, <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Is Facebook biased on its newsfeed? (Ahmed Mohamed Maawy) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 18:47:58 +0300 > From: Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <ultimateprogramer(a)gmail.com> > To: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Is Facebook biased on its newsfeed? > Message-ID: > <CAPZHszMdOd8VcahQ0Njd6bKs3QNjt= > XQpd7AMNb9m66S2UDM2g(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I may be wrong anyway Ali. But maybe its the way I see these 2 disciplines. > > But I think Algorithms are more of computations and logic operations. > Machine Learning gives these Algorithms the decision making capabilities > and comprise of a set of algorithms + historic data with the capability to > make predicitions. > > On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 6:44 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > > > Ahmed > > > > I stand educated. :-) > > > > Thank you. > > > > Ali Hussein > > Tel: +254 713 601113 > > On May 12, 2016 6:42 PM, "Ahmed Mohamed Maawy" < > > ultimateprogramer(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> Ali, This is what I mean: > >> > >> Algorithms: a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or > >> other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer. > >> > >> Machine Learning: Machine learning is a subfield of computer science > that > >> evolved from the study of pattern recognition and computational learning > >> theory in artificial intelligence. In 1959, Arthur Samuel defined > machine > >> learning as a "Field of study that gives computers the ability to learn > >> without being explicitly programmed" > >> > >> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 6:36 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > >> > >>> Ahmed > >>> > >>> Machine learning doesn't happen in a vacuum... > >>> > >>> *Ali Hussein* > >>> *Principal* > >>> *Hussein & Associates* > >>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 > >>> > >>> Twitter: @AliHKassim > >>> > >>> Skype: abu-jomo > >>> > >>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > >>> > >>> > >>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking > >>> what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi > >>> > >>> Sent from my iPad > >>> > >>> On 12 May 2016, at 6:10 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy < > >>> ultimateprogramer(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> I think there is a need to differential Machine Learning and Algorithms > >>> fellows. Machine Learning is where the problem is :) > >>> > >>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 5:55 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy < > >>> ultimateprogramer(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >>> > >>>> Its not the algorithms Ali, its the Machine Learning process :) > >>>> > >>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 5:42 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> Ahmed > >>>>> > >>>>> You obviously missed the story of the Microsoft algorithm that was > >>>>> taught to behave like a racist. :-) > >>>>> > >>>>> > http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/24/11297050/tay-microsoft-chatbot-racist > >>>>> > >>>>> My point is that we do seem to forget that all these algorithms are > >>>>> created by humans who have biases. > >>>>> > >>>>> Google is in trouble for deliberately skewing their algorithms to > >>>>> benefit their own products. Not sure this is wrong but the European > >>>>> regulators seem to think so to the extent of threatening them with a > 10% of > >>>>> revenue fine.. > >>>>> > >>>>> With great power comes great responsibility - so goes the adage.. > >>>>> > >>>>> *Ali Hussein* > >>>>> *Principal* > >>>>> *Hussein & Associates* > >>>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 > >>>>> > >>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim > >>>>> > >>>>> Skype: abu-jomo > >>>>> > >>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and > thinking > >>>>> what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi > >>>>> > >>>>> Sent from my iPad > >>>>> > >>>>> On 12 May 2016, at 5:20 PM, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy < > >>>>> ultimateprogramer(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> There are a number of elements at play here: > >>>>> > >>>>> 1. Obviously to a great degree this algorithm has massively helped > >>>>> Facebook. Not that I am totally on their side, what I mean to say > is that > >>>>> lets give credit where its due. Without this algorithm we would > have seen > >>>>> massive fallout and loss of klout. This is something Twitter did > not figure > >>>>> out so well. LinkedIn is still the place professionals like to > hang out, > >>>>> but its not the place professionals like to stay. Just stating > how it came > >>>>> to be that Facebook is air and air is life (so to speak). > >>>>> 2. If truly there is a bias to all this (which I am yes, yet to > >>>>> comprehend how this bias is visible) it can mean 2 things: > >>>>> 1. Either content producers are not building influence better > >>>>> than those who rank at the top. Or > >>>>> 2. If not, there is a genuine market opportunity in this gap. > >>>>> > >>>>> But algorithms are algorithms, and my experience developing > algorithms > >>>>> tells me computer algorithms can not easily be twisted to lie, > especially > >>>>> in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. > >>>>> > >>>>> But these are all books on their own anyway. > >>>>> > >>>>> Just my 2 cents. > >>>>> > >>>>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 4:52 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet < > >>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>>> Listers > >>>>>> > >>>>>> This mail is coped from the Fortune.com <http://fortune.com> Data > >>>>>> Sheet. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The ?Trending? topics section of Facebook seems such a trivial > thing, > >>>>>> and in many ways it is. It looks and feels like an > afterthought?ironically, > >>>>>> it started as an attempt to copy Twitter > >>>>>> < > http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL3RlY2hjcnVuY2guY29tLzI… > >?and > >>>>>> many users probably don?t even notice it?s there. But now, it has > triggered > >>>>>> a national discussion around bias and the power of social platforms. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> In case you missed the brouhaha, it started with a report from > >>>>>> Gizmodo that profiled > >>>>>> < > http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL2dpem1vZG8uY29tL3dhbnQ… > >a > >>>>>> team of anonymous journalists working at Facebook who curate the > news that > >>>>>> shows up in the Trending section. A subsequent report quoted one of > the > >>>>>> journalists as saying the team routinely removed certain > >>>>>> < > http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL2dpem1vZG8uY29tL2Zvcm1…> > right-wing > >>>>>> political sites from the section, even when the social network?s > data > >>>>>> showed they were trending. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The revelation seemed harmless enough, at first: Journalists hired > to > >>>>>> edit things were actually editing them! But the comment soon > snowballed > >>>>>> into a debate over Facebook?s role in news consumption, and whether > its > >>>>>> sheer size and influence brings with it some level of > responsibility. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Facebook responded to the story > >>>>>> < > http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29…> > by > >>>>>> saying that its policy is to remain as neutral as possible > editorially, and > >>>>>> that it will look into reports of misbehavior. Then it issued a > second, > >>>>>> even more heartfelt response, after the Senate Commerce Committee > sent > >>>>>> a letter > >>>>>> < > http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL2dpem1vZG8uY29tL3NlbmF…> > asking > >>>>>> the company to answer some questions around political influence and > the > >>>>>> Trending section. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The real issue, of course, isn?t the tiny section of the Facebook > >>>>>> home page that follows trending topics. It?s the fact that the kind > of > >>>>>> editorial selection those journalists engaged in is happening every > minute > >>>>>> of every day on the main news feed, courtesy of the Facebook ranking > >>>>>> algorithm. And that algorithm, since it is programmed by human > beings, > >>>>>> inevitably contains biases of all kinds. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The bottom line is that Facebook is more than just a social network > >>>>>> where people exchange photos of their pets?it is the largest and > >>>>>> most influential > >>>>>> < > http://link.fortune.com/click/6706588.20757/aHR0cDovL3d3dy52b3guY29tLzIwMTY…> > media > >>>>>> entity the world has ever seen. The sooner Facebook acknowledges > that, and > >>>>>> becomes part of the discussion around how it can manage its social > >>>>>> responsibilities, the better off we will all be. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> *Ali Hussein* > >>>>>> *Principal* > >>>>>> *Hussein & Associates* > >>>>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo > >>>>>> > >>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and > >>>>>> thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Sent from my iPad > >>>>>> > >>>>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>>>> kictanet mailing list > >>>>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >>>>>> > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40g… > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder > >>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT > policy > >>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in > the ICT > >>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and > development. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable > >>>>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's > times and > >>>>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, > respect > >>>>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> -- > >>>>> *Ahmed Maawy* > >>>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) > >>>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge > >>>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa > >>>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer > >>>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627 > >>>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer > >>>>> > >>>>> swahilibox.co.ke > >>>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> > >>>>> startupgrind.com > >>>>> ajplus.net > >>>>> www.everylayer.com > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> *Ahmed Maawy* > >>>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) > >>>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge > >>>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa > >>>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer > >>>> (KE) +254 714 960 627 > >>>> Skype: ultimateprogramer > >>>> > >>>> swahilibox.co.ke > >>>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> > >>>> startupgrind.com > >>>> ajplus.net > >>>> www.everylayer.com > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -- > >>> *Ahmed Maawy* > >>> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) > >>> Ambassador - Open Knowledge > >>> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa > >>> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer > >>> (KE) +254 714 960 627 > >>> Skype: ultimateprogramer > >>> > >>> swahilibox.co.ke > >>> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> > >>> startupgrind.com > >>> ajplus.net > >>> www.everylayer.com > >>> > >>> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> *Ahmed Maawy* > >> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) > >> Ambassador - Open Knowledge > >> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa > >> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer > >> (KE) +254 714 960 627 > >> Skype: ultimateprogramer > >> > >> swahilibox.co.ke > >> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> > >> startupgrind.com > >> ajplus.net > >> www.everylayer.com > >> > > > > > -- > *Ahmed Maawy* > Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) > Ambassador - Open Knowledge > Director - Startup Grind Mombasa > Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer > (KE) +254 714 960 627 > Skype: ultimateprogramer > > swahilibox.co.ke > www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> > startupgrind.com > ajplus.net > www.everylayer.com >

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Fwd: [afnog] Application for AfPIF- 2016 Fellowship is open/ L¹inscription au programme de bourses AfPIF-2016 est ouverte!
by Barrack Otieno 12 May '16

12 May '16

Listers, This might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Betel Hailu <hailu(a)isoc.org> Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 06:58:30 +0000 Subject: [afnog] Application for AfPIF- 2016 Fellowship is open/ L¹inscription au programme de bourses AfPIF-2016 est ouverte! To: "afnog(a)afnog.org" <afnog(a)afnog.org> Hello everyone, Application for AfPIF-2016 Fellowship is open! Looking for a travel fellowship to attend AfPIF-2016? There is a limited fellowship opportunity<https://www.internetsociety.org/afpif-2016/node/2173> - see if you qualify. L'inscription au programme de bourses AfPIF-2016 est ouverte! Vous cherchez des bourses de voyage pour participer à AfPIF-2016? Les places sont limités, cependant vérifiez si votre profil correspond aux critères<https://www.internetsociety.org/afpif-2016-fr/node/1092>. Betel Hailu | Africa Regional Bureau - Communications Coordinator | ISOC: Internet Society skype: betty.hailu | www.InternetSociety.org<http://www.InternetSociety.org> | Follow Us [Description: Macintosh HD:Users:betelhailu:Desktop:facebook.png] <https://www.facebook.com/ISOCAfrica> [Description: Macintosh HD:Users:betelhailu:Desktop:twitter.png] <https://twitter.com/ISOC_Africa> -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Postel Award Nominations Open
by Grace Githaiga 11 May '16

11 May '16

Listers Do we have an individual or an organisation we can nominate? It would be good to see someone or organisation from Kenya or Africa. Yes? RgdsGrace From: Carly Morris <morris(a)isoc.org> Subject: Postel Award Nominations Open - Please distribute Date: May 11, 2016 at 5:42:54 AM EDT To: DL All Staff <DLAllStaff(a)isoc.org> Hi everyone, I wanted to let you all know that candidate nominations for the 2016 Jonathan B. Postel Service Award are open and the deadline approaches (May 18, 17:00 UTC). *I’d like to appeal to you all to share this call for nominations with your networks or any contacts you may feel are relevant and worthy of a nomination.* This prestigious annual award is presented to an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions in service to the data communications community. The signature crystal globe and a USD 20,000 prize will be presented at the 96th Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting in Berlin, Germany (17 -22 July 2016) to the chosen candidate. Nominations are encouraged for individuals or teams of individuals from across the data communications industry around the world, either by self-nomination or by third party. Nominations can be submitted using this web form: https://www.internetsociety.org/form/postel-nominations Many thanks for your support. Best, Carly *** More About the Award The Jonathan B. Postel Service Award was established by the Internet Society to honor a person who has made outstanding contributions in service to the data communications community. The award is focused on sustained and substantial technical contributions, service to the community, and leadership. With respect to leadership, the award committee places particular emphasis on candidates who have supported and enabled others in addition to their own specific actions. The award is named for Dr. Jonathan B. Postel to recognize and commemorate the extraordinary stewardship exercised by Jon Postel over the course of a thirty-year career in networking. Jon Postel served as the editor of the RFC series of notes from its inception in 1969 until 1998. He also served as the ARPANET “numbers Czar” and Internet Assigned Numbers Authority over the same period of time. He was a founding member of the Internet Architecture (nee Activities) Board and the first individual member of the Internet Society, which he also served as a Trustee. Find out more · Find the out more on the award, nomination procedures, and online submission forms. http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/grants-and-awards/awards/postel-s… · Learn more about Jon Postel’s life and contributions. http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/grants-and-awards/awards/postel-s… · I'm ready to nominate someone! http://www.internetsociety.org/what-we-do/grants-and-awards/awards/postel-s… For any questions please contact postel(a)isoc.org Carly Morris Manager, Stakeholder Relations Internet Society Mobile + 41 76 29 61 104 email: morris(a)isoc.org http://www.isoc.org

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KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats
by Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) 11 May '16

11 May '16

Listers, KRA is targeting mobile money as part of the agency’s financial data gathering scheme that is meant to monitor businesses and individuals who are not paying their fair share of taxes. People familiar with the plan said the taxman is at an advanced stage of rolling out a number crunching mechanism that will use electronic data to suggest incomes of those using mobile money to pay bills and make purchases. Full article here: http://www.nation.co.ke/business/KRA-radical-plan-to-catch-tax-cheats/-/996… -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u Nairobi Kenya Skype: gracebomu Twitter: @Bomu <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F

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Re: [kictanet] KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats/Data Privacy
by Wangari Kabiru 11 May '16

11 May '16

Happy Ladies Day! Certainly huge volumes run through the channels. The profits speak to it. A few days back, Google was fighting a government decree to it, tooth and nail to keep unacceptable content on its channels. I am waiting to see if our valued service providers have the guts to fight tooth and nail for their esteemed customers! Aside from that, when the Uber fire was hot, I mentioned that this would be the new human 'car' track. In a few years your movement will be tracked and your taxes computed from this. How might you afford all the travel, tracked already would be the question. Be blessed. Regards/WangariOn May 11, 2016 15:10, Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > @Kagwe, > > Indeed Safcom (and other mobile operators) have the data. > > Infact they have more data about you and me than we can imagine. With what the have, they can trace out your route from home, to office to your preferred pub and if applicable your *plan b* :-). Further they know whom you talked to and for how long during the day, night and over the last six months. They also know how much you paid for your groceries/supermarket, water bills and power bills, taxi..etc. > > But its all fine as long as they do not share this data with 3rd parties. > > Same way your doctor knows your biological profile inside out. It's fine as long as he or she does not Blog about it. Also you lecturer knows how many supplimentaries you had or did not have... Its all fine since that data is collected for a specific purpose relating to their tasks. The moment it is shared to 3rd parties for other purposes - surveillance, tax, marketing, etc, it violates your privacy and requires court orders to sanction. > > This is the old essence of data protection. 'Old' because I recognise that the post-Google generation (Yr 2000+) seem not to give a hoot about data privacy. After all, they Snapchat, Instagram and Tweet whatever it is they are doing, eating, sleeping, showering and what have you. > > They seem not to have a private life, and so why try to data-protect it? > > Very interesting times we live in. > > walu. > nb: KRA can actually access your '3rd party' data through court orders, but not as a matter of routine or standard working procedure. > > > ________________________________ > From: James Kagwe via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: James Kagwe <kagwejg(a)gmail.com> > Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 1:43 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats > > Just curious. Safaricom already has all this data. Is it that violation of privacy will happen when the data is transferred to KRA? Is it that we trust Safaricom more than government? I guess by the mere fact that we embrace technology and use it to achieve all our daily activities privacy in the sense we are discussing diminishes. > Rgds, > James Kagwe > On May 11, 2016 12:55 PM, "Lawrence Njogu via kictanet" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> >> In the absence of a legislation that governs the protection of personal data, entities will use their power to seek data from any source in order to fulfill their mandate. Although Kenya has a data protection bill, it does not provide guidance on what is meant by consent, and the legitimate grounds individuals can raise to object the processing of their data. This is also a wake up call for all of us...... >> In this case, KRA is driven by the will to demand tax compliance from merchants, and that is why they are currently focusing on payroll transactions that are aggregated through Mpesa platform. >> @Walu As you mentioned, KRA has the right to seek data directly from the merchants..and that is exactly what they are doing. >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> Date: Wed, 11 May 2016 05:35:35 +0000 >> From: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> To: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> CC: lnjogu(a)hotmail.com >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats >> >> @Njogu, @Kivuva, >> >> Do not miss the big point. Which is that KRA has no authority (in the absence of Data Protection Act) to seek data from Safaricom, belonging to Safaricom clients - whether merchants, consumers or otherwise. >> >> KRA has ofcourse every right to seek the said data directly from the merchants or consumers (data owners) for that matter. >> >> Its a slippery path as some have alluded to. Soon KRA will be going to your hospital to demand data on how big your medical bill was for the last financial year - in order to estimated your net worth and compare that with what you declared in your tax returns. >> >> Further they will visit the private school where you kids go to school and demand how much school fees you have paid for your 3kids over the last financial year and do the same algorithm. >> >> Finally, they will visit your bank, local pub, gym and whatnot and demand the same information. >> >> This is all good for KRA, but hey, this data does NOT belong to the hospital, the private school, the local pub or gym. It belongs to YOU. These other entities are simply data custodians and have no right to share your data with NSIS, KRA, or even your wife :-) >> >> >> walu. >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Lawrence Njogu via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: Lawrence Njogu <lnjogu(a)hotmail.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 11:03 PM >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats >> >> I agree Mwendwa.. This is tapping the aggregated vendors data at the SafariCom Paybill platform...and no consumer data aggregation is required. >> >> > Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 20:40:35 +0300 >> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats >> > From: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > CC: Kivuva(a)transworldafrica.com >> > To: lnjogu(a)hotmail.com >> > >> > 1. Paybill platform already has a VAT module that can be activated at >> > any time by Safaricom. The equivalent of Paybill is your organisation >> > Point of Sale or better still ERP. >> > 2. Small players don't need to worry as far as VAT is concerned. If >> > your annual turnover is below five million Kenyan shillings, you are >> > not required to register for VAT >> > >> > On 10/05/2016, Tony White via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> > > Don't forget - KRA already collects tax on m-pesa transactions - if >> > > Bob is listening here, perhaps he can tell us just how much this is! >> > > >> > > There is also the question of how much time and effort is spent (at >> > > what cost to the taxpayer!) chasing after all the small 'Lipa na >> > > m-pesa' dukas. >> > > >> > > There is a point where some taxes are not worth collecting - ie. >> > > costing more to administer and collect than the amount collected - >> > > case in point - road tax >> > > >> > > Does KRA already have powers, without notice, to examine our bank >> > > transaction records? Neither should they get into mobile money >> > > transactions without a court order! >> > > >> > > Cheers from a very wet Kwale County ;) >> > > >> > > >> > > On 10/05/2016, Ahmed Mohamed Maawy via kictanet >> > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> > >> Thinking exactly the same thing.. Ali. >> > >> >> > >> It is extremely surprising to me that the privacy issue has not been >> > >> mentioned at all in all this. Even in the article. As Kenyans we tend to >> > >> not understand how crucial privacy is. Especially in the context of what >> > >> is >> > >> going to go on here. >> > >> >> > >> This is the exact same issue that has put governments in the west at a >> > >> great pain to explain their *secretive* involvement in yet here we are >> > >> comfortably going *public* about it. >> > >> >> > >> On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:42 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet < >> > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> > >> >> > >>> This is a great initiative to expand the tax bracket. Im just curious >> > >>> how >> > >>> this will be achieved considering the slippery slope that will be >> > >>> encountered on Privacy issues. >> > >>> >> > >>> *Ali Hussein* >> > >>> >> > >>> *Principal* >> > >>> >> > >>> *Hussein & Associates* >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> Tel: +254 713 601113 >> > >>> >> > >>> Twitter: @AliHKassim >> > >>> >> > >>> Skype: abu-jomo >> > >>> >> > >>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim >> > >>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely >> > >>> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the >> > >>> organizations that I work with. >> > >>> >> > >>> On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 2:29 PM, Grace Githaiga via kictanet < >> > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >> > >>> >> > >>>> @Grace B, do we have a law that would facilitate this? Or is KRA being >> > >>>> over enthusiastic? How much would they really net in guys transacting a >> > >>>> few >> > >>>> thousands? >> > >>>> >> > >>>> ------------------------------ >> > >>>> Date: Tue, 10 May 2016 14:09:05 +0300 >> > >>>> Subject: [kictanet] KRA's radical plan to catch tax cheats >> > >>>> From: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > >>>> CC: nmutungu(a)gmail.com >> > >>>> To: ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> Listers, >> > >>>> >> > >>>> KRA is targeting mobile money as part of the agency’s financial data >> > >>>> gathering scheme that is meant to monitor businesses and individuals who >> > >>>> are not paying their fair share of taxes. >> > >>>> >> > >>>> People familiar with the plan said the taxman is at an advanced stage of >> > >>>> rolling out a number crunching mechanism that will use electronic data >> > >>>> to >> > >>>> suggest incomes of those using mobile money to pay bills and make >> > >>>> purchases. >> > >>>> >> > >>>> Full article here: >> > >>>> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/KRA-radical-plan-to-catch-tax-cheats/-/996… >> > >>>> -- >> > >>>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u >> > >>>> Nairobi Kenya >> > >>>> Skype: gracebomu >> > >>>> Twitter: @Bomu >> > >>>> >> > >>>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list >> > >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or >> > >>>> change your options at >> > >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ggithaiga%40hotmail.c… >> > >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> > >>>> for >> > >>>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> > >>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> > >>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> > >>>> development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of >> > >>>> acceptable >> > >>>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times >> > >>>> and >> > >>>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect >> > >>>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > >>>> >> > >>>> _______________________________________________ >> > >>>> kictanet mailing list >> > >>>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> > >>>> >> > >>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> > >>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com >> > >>>> >> > >>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> > >>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> > >>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> > >>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> > >>>> development. >> > >>>> >> > >>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> > >>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> > >>>> bandwidth, >> > >>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, >> > >>>> do >> > >>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > >>>> >> > >>> >> > >>> >> > >>> _______________________________________________ >> > >>> kictanet mailing list >> > >>> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> > >>> >> > >>> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> > >>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ultimateprogramer%40g… >> > >>> >> > >>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> > >>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> > >>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> > >>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and >> > >>> development. >> > >>> >> > >>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> > >>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and >> > >>> bandwidth, >> > >>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> > >>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > >>> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> -- >> > >> *Ahmed Maawy* >> > >> Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) >> > >> Ambassador - Open Knowledge >> > >> Director - Startup Grind Mombasa >> > >> Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer >> > >> (KE) +254 714 960 627 >> > >> Skype: ultimateprogramer >> > >> >> > >> swahilibox.co.ke >> > >> www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> >> > >> startupgrind.com >> > >> ajplus.net >> > >> www.everylayer.com >> > >> >> > > >> > > >> > > -- >> > > Tony White >> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > kictanet mailing list >> > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> > > >> > > Unsubscribe or change your options at >> > > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldaf… >> > > >> > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for >> > > people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> > > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> > > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> > > >> > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> > > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> > > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> > > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > >> > >> > -- >> > ______________________ >> > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya >> > twitter.com/lordmwesh >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > kictanet mailing list >> > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> > >> > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lnjogu%40hotmail.com >> >> > >> > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> > >> > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kagwejg%40gmail.com >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >

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ACTIONAID BREAKFAST
by Magdalene Kariuki 11 May '16

11 May '16

Dear all, Thank you for those that have expressed interest in the event. We have sent out invitations to those that wrote back. We have now closed the registration. Thank you once again. Kind regards, Magdalene.

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Re: [kictanet] ACTIONAID KENYA INVITATION TO BREAKFAST MEETING ON 12TH MAY
by odiemo 11 May '16

11 May '16

please give me details Magdalene Kariuki via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: >Dearmembers,Ihopethatthisemailfindsyouwell. ArethereanyofyoupresentlyengaginginCSRinitiativesatcorprorate/institutionlevelorwouldbeinterestedindoingsowhileatthesametimeleveragingthecorporate/businessbrandandcompetitiveness?ActionAidKenyatogetherwiththeOfficeoftheDeputyPresidentthroughtheSocialInvestmentFocusedAgenda(SIFA-Kenya)areco-hostingabreakfastmeetingonThursday,12thMaytodiscussthecorporatephilanthropysectorinKenyaandhowitlinkstotheSDGs.ThiswouldbegreatplatformforCSR/MarketingheadsespeciallythoseinICTtocomeandshareideasonICTintegrationindevelopment.Ifanyofyouisinterestedkindlywritetomedirectlytogetmoredetails.Thankyouforyourconsiderationonthematter.Kindregards,Magdalene.

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