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AI and ethics. Samasource and ChatGPT: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic
by Mwendwa Kivuva 19 Jan '23

19 Jan '23

*This is a human centric story on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics.* *An interesting piece by Time magazine on the role and dangers of teaching AI, where Kenyan workers were used to train ChatGPT models.* *I have left the graphical parts out. For anyone who want to read through, the link is shared at the end. But this shows how we are creating psychologically disturbed workers in our communities. How are these workers integrated back to the community without being damaged?* Documents reviewed by TIME show that OpenAI signed three contracts worth about $200,000 in total with Sama in late 2021 to label textual descriptions of sexual abuse, hate speech, and violence. Around three dozen workers were split into three teams, one focusing on each subject. Three employees told TIME they were expected to read and label between 150 and 250 passages of text per nine-hour shift. Those snippets could range from around 100 words to well over 1,000. All of the four employees interviewed by TIME described being mentally scarred by the work. Although they were entitled to attend sessions with “wellness” counselors, all four said these sessions were unhelpful and rare due to high demands to be more productive at work. Two said they were only given the option to attend group sessions, and one said their requests to see counselors on a one-to-one basis instead were repeatedly denied by Sama management. *Is Samasource breaking any local laws by handling data that is proscribed by several acts in Kenya? Read on.* In February 2022, Sama and OpenAI’s relationship briefly deepened, only to falter. That month, Sama began pilot work for a separate project for OpenAI: collecting sexual and violent images—some of them illegal under U.S. law—to deliver to OpenAI. The work of labeling images appears to be unrelated to ChatGPT*.* In a statement, an OpenAI spokesperson did not specify the purpose of the images the company sought from Sama, but said labeling harmful images was “a necessary step” in making its AI tools safer. (OpenAI also builds image-generation <https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2022/6225486/dall-e-2/> technology.) In February, according to one billing document reviewed by TIME, Sama delivered OpenAI a sample batch of 1,400 images. Some of those images were categorized as “C4”—OpenAI’s internal label denoting child sexual abuse—according to the document. Also included in the batch were “C3” images (including bestiality, rape, and sexual slavery,) and “V3” images depicting graphic detail of death, violence or serious physical injury, according to the billing document. OpenAI paid Sama a total of $787.50 for collecting the images, the document shows. Questions to ask ourselves: *Who should review AI systems if not humans? * *How should the humans be treated?* *What laws govern these new spheres of concern?* *The silver lining is that Samasource is working to provide a safer environment for its workers, and to an extension the Kenyan public. It has terminated contracts from projects that are traumatizing its employees. The sad bit is that some employees were also laid off due to lost revenue*. Samasource and ChatGPT: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic https://time.com/6247678/openai-chatgpt-kenya-workers/?s=09 -- Best Regards, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva

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Unpacking Enforcement Decisions by the ODPC
by Mugambi Laibuta 19 Jan '23

19 Jan '23

Good day Listers, Join our Twitter Space this evening at 7:30pm Topic: Unpacking Enforcement Decisions by Kenya's Data Commissioner. Link : https://lnkd.in/det6M4Vh Regards, Laibuta

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High Court suspends bank to M-Pesa transaction charges
by Victor Kapiyo 19 Jan '23

19 Jan '23

The High Court has ordered Safaricom and the central bank to halt re-introduction of charges on transactions made between mobile money wallets and lenders pending determination of a suit involving financial consumer rights. Read more: https://nation.africa/kenya/business/high-court-suspends-bank-to-m-pesa-tra…

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Majority World Initiative Fellow
by Victor Kapiyo 17 Jan '23

17 Jan '23

Dear Listers, The Yale ISP is hiring a fellow for its new Majority World Initiative <https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/isp-launches-majority-world-initiative-…> . The MWI Fellowship is an opportunity for a research scholar to build and engage with a community of majority world scholars, nurturing their ideas and finding ways to publish and amplify them. A J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree is required. The ideal candidate will be familiar with social media governance scholarship and with the challenges majority world researchers face while thinking and writing about global online platforms. They will also have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, will be capable of writing persuasively. We encourage candidates from the majority world to apply. The duties of the MWI Fellow may include: - Identifying thematic focus areas in consultation with the Executive Director - Building relationships with majority world scholars - Writing white papers or academic articles, and publishing blog posts and op-eds - Commissioning papers and blog posts from scholars, and publishing interviews with them - Executing the MWI project, including organizing workshops and a conference, and working with the others involved in the project and institution when necessary - Supporting the Executive Director, and coordinating with the ISP staff and Yale law school staff wherever necessary The Fellow will receive a fellowship salary of USD 50,000-80,000 per year depending on prior relevant work experience as well as a travel budget, Yale University benefits, and access to Yale University resources. The Fellow is expected to live in the New Haven area and be a part of the ISP community. Application materials should include: - A cover letter - A 3 to 5-page statement describing the applicant’s interest and relevant experience - A resume or CV - A law and/or graduate school transcript - At least one scholarly writing sample, preferably in English - Two to three letters of recommendation We welcome applications immediately and will consider them beginning on December 15, 2022 until the position is filled. We expect the fellow to start by March 1, 2023. Questions and applications should be sent to Ann-Marie Cooper (ann-marie.cooper(a)yale.edu) Please indicate clearly that the application is for the MWI Fellow position. Here is the call for applications <https://law.yale.edu/isp/join-us>. Regards, *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Nine Planet Apartments, 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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ELIUD OWALO: Will strategist deliver Kenya's ICT goodies?
by Victor Kapiyo 16 Jan '23

16 Jan '23

ICT Cabinet secretary Eliud Owalo must understand well the adage that the riskier the bet the higher the reward. By supporting William Ruto for the presidency during the August General Election, Mr Owalo had staked everything on the ‘‘away team’’ when regional politics overwhelmingly bet on Raila Odinga. The gamble could backfire badly and sink the man from Asembo, Siaya, into oblivion or elevate him to national prominence. Read more: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/profiles/eliud-owalo-will-… Regards, *Victor Kapiyo* Partner | *Lawmark Partners LLP* *Nine Planet Apartments, 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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Kenyan businesswoman charged with hacking and stealing $120 Million from Zimbabwean parastatal
by Victor Kapiyo 13 Jan '23

13 Jan '23

A 40-year-old Kenyan woman, Primrose Nyeri Mwangi, has been charged with fraud in a Harare court for allegedly hacking into the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) and stealing $120 million from the organization’s bank accounts. Read more: https://ntvkenya.co.ke/news/kenyan-businesswoman-charged-with-hacking-and-s…

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Guidebook: Data Protection & Privacy in Kenya from a Gender Perspective
by David Indeje 13 Jan '23

13 Jan '23

[image: FmQeo9NXoAIlAGo.png] Dear Listers, In 2019, Kenya enacted the Data Protection Act 2019 (DPA), to operationalize the right to privacy in Kenya. Since then, Kenya has established the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner whose mandate is to enforce data protection rights and principles as envisioned in the DPA. Despite this, there exists a gap in awareness and understanding of existing safeguards for data subjects and more so women under the law and privacy features on social media platforms. This guidebook aims to raise awareness on data protection and privacy in Kenya from a gender perspective. For more information : KICTANet has developed three learning materials to raise awareness and deepen understanding of data protection with a gender lens. These learning materials include a comic strip on women and data <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/comic-on-women-data-keeping-safe-online/>, a policy brief on data protection and privacy from a gender perspective <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/mdocs-posts/data-protection-and-privacy-a-gender…> and the Guidebook on Data Protection and Privacy from a Gender Perspective <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/mdocs-posts/guidebook-on-data-protection-and-pri…> . -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *KICTANet Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 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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UNESCO Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education
by Gachungi, Lydia 12 Jan '23

12 Jan '23

The 2022 edition of the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education<https://www.unesco.org/en/prizes/ict-education> is accepting nominations. All nominations should be submitted via the online platform<http://www.unesco.org/ict-ed-prize> by 23 January 2023. The theme of the 2022 edition is "The use of public platforms to ensure inclusive access to digital education content". It will reward projects that have made digital learning platforms and digital content more accessible, as well as those that have promoted universal connectivity in education and digital competencies for all teachers and learners. The 2022 theme is in line with the commitments made at the Transforming Education Summit, during which participating States reaffirmed that digital technologies should not widen but reduce learning gaps - and, to this end, it is essential to make digital resources available to all. Two projects will be selected, and each laureate will receive USD 25,000 and international recognition during an award ceremony at the UNESCO Headquarters. For more information on the eligibility criteria, submission, and nomination process, please see the brochure presenting the 2022 edition<https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384032> and the related guidelines<https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2022/11/ICT%20in…> or visit the Prize webpage<https://www.unesco.org/en/prizes/ict-education>. Email: ictprize(a)unesco.org<mailto:ictprize@unesco.org> [A picture containing text, outdoor, person, sign Description automatically generated] ----- FRENCH l'édition 2022 du Prix UNESCO Roi Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa pour l'utilisation des technologies de l'information et de la communication dans l'éducation<https://www.unesco.org/fr/prizes/ict-education> est ouverte aux candidatures. Toutes les nominations doivent être soumises via la plate-forme en ligne<http://www.unesco.org/ict-ed-prize> avant le 23 janvier 2023. Le thème de l'édition 2022 est « Les plates-formes publiques au service d'un accès inclusif aux contenus éducatifs numériques ». Seront récompensés des projets qui auront rendu les plates-formes d'apprentissage numérique et les contenus numériques plus accessibles, et qui auront promu la connectivité universelle dans les écoles, ainsi que les compétences numériques des enseignants comme des élèves. Le thème de 2022 est conforme aux engagements pris lors du Sommet sur la transformation de l'éducation, dans le cadre duquel les États participants ont rappelé qu'il était important que le numérique réduise les fractures éducatives et non l'inverse - et que pour ce faire, la mise à disposition pour tous des ressources numériques était essentielle. Deux projets seront sélectionnés. Chaque lauréat recevra 25 000 dollars des États-Unis et une reconnaissance internationale lors d'une cérémonie de remise des prix au siège de l'UNESCO. Pour de plus amples informations sur les critères d'éligibilité, le processus de candidature et de nomination, vous pouvez consulter la brochure présentation l'édition 2022<https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384032_fre> et le guide de candidature<https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2022/11/ICT%20in…> ou visiter la page web du Prix<https://www.unesco.org/fr/prizes/ict-education>. E-mail: ictprize(a)unesco.org<mailto:ictprize@unesco.org> [A person wearing headphones Description automatically generated with low confidence]

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Home internet Downtime
by Sidney Ochieng 11 Jan '23

11 Jan '23

Hi Listers, As some of you may know, and have experienced, Zuku has been down since late Friday. Communication has been nonexistent and even when you finally get through to customer care after several minutes of hold you don't get any timelines on the restoration of service. This has led me to looking through a few of the CA's reports looking to see if there's any data on down times and other metrics that a home internet provider might be measured on. I couldn't find any. Does anyone know if the CA collects such data? If they do, where is it located? If not, what do they collect on home internet connections? If this data doesn't exist with CA does it exist somewhere else? I'd really like to change my provider using some data rather than anecdotal evidence. What are the other measures I can take, other than reporting to the CA, about this? A credit on lost days of internet feels like it's too cheap a consequence for what I've been going through. -- Warmly, Sidney *Twitter:* @princelySid <https://twitter.com/princelySid>* |* *Github:* princelySid <https://github.com/princelySid> | *Web: *sidneyochieng.co.ke

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ICT CS speaks on Revival of Huduma Namba Initiative
by David Indeje 11 Jan '23

11 Jan '23

Dear Listers, "If it has not reached you", the Government plans to digitise over 5,000 government services. This was the genesis of the Huduma Namba revival discourse. The Huduma Namba was introduced in 2019 but the court halted its rollout due to inadequate public participation and issues to do with its compliance to Personal Data Protection Act. Here is what the ICT CS Eliud Owalo said about it: https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/local/ict-cs-eliud-owalo-explains-why-hudu… As its re-emergence happens, KICTANet has done work around the subject on Huduma Namba which include: 1. “Implementing #HudumaNamba: Challenges and Prospects” whose findings recommend measures that can safeguard compliance with data protection principles and respect for human rights in the use of huduma Namba in Kenya. https://bit.ly/31KzCkx (download) 2. Huduma Namba Documentary now available on KICTANET’s Youtube channel. https://bit.ly/31PnZsu Your thoughts are welcome on this. -- *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje* *KICTANet Communications *_____________________________________ +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856 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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