December 2022 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Study on gaps and needs of gig economy workers with a gender focus
by Angela Minayo 02 Dec '22

02 Dec '22

Dear Listers, The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is the German federal agency in international cooperation for sustainable development. The Gig Economy initiative at GIZ aims to foster favourable framework conditions for fair work in the gig economy at the level of workers, platforms and critical stakeholders from politics, business and civil society. Despite the rapid expansion of the gig economy globally, the real-life experiences of gig workers in low- and middle-income countries has been overlooked. A study conducted by the Gig Economy Initiative aims to understand the skills needs and gaps of gig workers, with a gendered lens to reveal the unique challenges women face. As part of this study a survey has been designed to capture data on the: logistics of their work, support networks, working conditions and future prospects and opportunities of these workers. The Gig Economy initiative at GIZ aims to foster favourable framework conditions for fair work in the gig economy at the level of workers, platforms and critical stakeholders from politics, business and civil society. We are requesting *your support* in the dissemination of this survey amongst your networks and contacts to gig workers who are engaged via digital labour platforms. Gig workers include: ride-share drivers, data-labellers, bike-couriers, houseworkers, developers and anyone who finds their work via an online platform. Survey Link: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/6TIhcGRA (completion time 5-7 mins) The survey will close on the 15th of December 2022 and can be accessed both on a computer and mobile. The final study will be released early to mid-2023 and GIZ will be happy to keep you updated on developments. Angela Minayo Program Officer- KICTANet KICTANet portals KICTANet.or.ke <https://kictanet.or.ke/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/kictanet> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/18428106/admin/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/>

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Re: [kictanet] KICTANet Roundtable Meeting on Gender and Data: The Role of the ODPC in Safeguarding Women's Data Protection, on 8th December 2022 at Royal Tulips Canaan Nairobi
by Angela Minayo 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

Hi Listers, KICTANet will be holding a half day Roundtable Meeting on Gender and Data: The Role of the ODPC in Safeguarding Women's Data Protection *on 8th December 2022.* We have reserved ten slots for listers with a background in data protection and privacy as well as women's rights to attend. If you would like to attend, kindly reach out to me and copy nkakusu(a)kictanet.or.ke The slots will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please find attached the concept note for the meeting for your information and planning. Angela Minayo Program Officer- KICTANet KICTANet portals KICTANet.or.ke <https://kictanet.or.ke/> | Twitter <https://twitter.com/kictanet> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/18428106/admin/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/>

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What regulatory interventions exist to guard the consumer against service unavailability in the ICT sector?
by Nicholas Kisundu 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

Discussions around closing the digital (gender, PLWD, rural-urban) divide have been my daily uptake in the recent past, looking at how to bring everyone to the digital space. While we push to get the unconnected to be connected, a good percentage of those that are already connected are suffering from unreliable internet services offered by some ISPs in the market. The argument around this issue is that home/office internet subscriptions are time-based. The subscriber pays for access to the internet for a month, for example. A certain amount of money is prescribed, depending on the bandwidth one subscribes for. Along the way, the customer is faced with countless downtimes, which go uncompensated. In essence, the customer paid for service not delivered. I have had my fair share of this menace, and when I asked my ISP, the response was that if the service remains unavailable for more than 24 hours, then I should file a case with them for a refund. The point is, I may not get a complete cycle of 24 hrs downtime, but I may have 10 hrs today, 16 hours next week, and even 20 hours another week. Cumulatively, I could lose almost 3 days in a month, but I cannot get compensated since no one instance lasted for 24 hrs. Even with this provision from the ISP, the customer is highly disadvantaged, and mostly uninformed that there is such a provision. With the recent increase in remote working, these downtimes would cost one so much, especially those working from home, and upon such occurrences, they are required to procure the mobile data bundles that are usually expensive compared to fixed wireless services (that expense is on top of the monthly subscription). Are there regulatory measures in place to ensure that the customer gets exactly what they have paid for, or is it a case of a free market where the customer is at will to dump one ISP for another in such instances? If yes, do we then need the regulator to also enlighten the consumer of the existence of such regulations that protect them, and how they can best utilize them to ensure that they get value for their money? Most customers have no idea that there is anything they can do about it, other than picking a different ISP as a punishment for the non-performing one. While competition could be seen as a way to ensure ISPs provide quality and reliable services, some areas have only one ISP, operating as a monopoly, and the issue of competition doe not apply. As we champion digital inclusion, we must ensure that we have meaningful connectivity, which means, good quality and reliability of the services offered. Regards, Kisundu Nicholas N, Digital Inclusion| ICT Policy, +254712770655 LinkedIn Profile <https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-kisundu-28933482/>

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MPs open probe on data expiry, Safaricom Bonga points
by Victor Kapiyo 01 Dec '22

01 Dec '22

Parliament will probe telecommunications firms for imposing expiry dates on data bundles, airtime and loyalty programmes such as Safaricom’s Bonga Points, setting the stage for a fresh battle between the lawmakers and the operators. The National Assembly’s committee on Communications, Information and Innovation says it will also inquire into the widespread Internet speed throttling practice by internet service providers (ISPs). *Read more: * https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/economy/mps-open-probe-on-data-expir… *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Suite No. 8, Centro House, Westlands, Nairobi | **Web: www.lawmark.co.ke <http://www.lawmark.co.ke> * ==================================================== *“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar*

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