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Cryptocurrencies: What next for Kenya?
by Ali Hussein 13 Jan '16

13 Jan '16

Listers Interesting article on the above. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-next-cryptocurrency-kenya-rosemary-koec… Ali Hussein Tel: +254 713 601113

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Google appeases Pakistani censors with country-specific version of YouTube
by Ali Hussein 12 Jan '16

12 Jan '16

Listers In light of the Netflix debate and KFCB assertions on Regulations here's an interesting article on Pakistan regarding. YouTube. > http://www.dailydot.com/politics/google-youtube-pakistan-censorship-country… One statement caught my eye:- In February 2014, Pakistani officials announced that they were extending the YouTube ban “indefinitely,” because “no tool or solution has been found which can totally block offensive content.” Different countries are trying to handle Internet Governance in their own ways. One thing is clear. The openness of the World Wide Web is under threat globally. We shouldn't jump in the bandwagon of curtailing our freedoms. Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > From: Riyaz Bachani <bachani(a)gmail.com> > Date: 12 January 2016 at 10:18:24 PM EAT > To: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > Subject: pakistani youtube > > http://www.dailydot.com/politics/google-youtube-pakistan-censorship-country… >

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] FW: Call for Applications - Internet Technical Community Representation in the IGF MAG
by Barrack Otieno 12 Jan '16

12 Jan '16

Listers, In case you missed this. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dawit Bekele <bekele(a)isoc.org> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 19:12:04 +0000 Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] FW: Call for Applications - Internet Technical Community Representation in the IGF MAG To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net>, "afnog(a)afnog.org" <afnog(a)afnog.org> FYI. Call for Applications for Internet Technical Community Representation in the Internet Governance Forum Multistakeholder Advisory Group 2016 (MAG) The purpose of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) is to advise the U.N. Secretary General on the programme and schedule of the Internet Governance Forum meetings. The MAG comprises of 55 Members from governments, the private sector and civil society, including representatives from the academic and technical communities. Those nominated should expect to attend two virtual MAG meetings per month as well as typically three face to face meetings per year. More information. <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/magabout> The Internet Society (ISOC) is facilitating a process<http://www.internetcollaboration.org/nominations/> leading to recommendations from the Internet Technical Collaboration Group for participation in the 2016 MAG<http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/magabout> of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). A Nominating Committee (NOMCOM) consisting of senior members of the Internet technical community is currently being formed and will provide nominations to be transmitted to the United Nations for consideration. Candidates should be aware that nominations may or may not be accepted by the UN. Individuals interested in being suggested by the Nominating Committee are invited to complete the Nomination Form<http://www.internetcollaboration.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/10/20…> in full to provide responses to a set of Questions<http://www.internetcollaboration.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/10/Su…> that are specific to the Internet technical community. Both the form and the answers to questions should be returned to information.itcg(a)gmail.com<mailto:[email protected]> by 2359 UTC on Friday, January 22nd. Applications with incomplete responses to either set of questions will not be considered. ISOC will transmit the names of nominees to the United Nations no later than February 1st. More details on the nomination process can be found here<http://wp.internetsociety.org/internetcollaboration/wp-content/uploads/site…>. Both sets of questions should be answered completely. Responses need not necessarily be lengthy, but they must be sufficiently content-full that the Nominating Committee can accurately judge from them the extent and specifics of your background. If the applicant believes that an existing CV or biographical sketch would contribute to the Nominating Committee's understanding of the candidacy, such a document may be provided in either PDF form or in the form of a link. In terms of attendance at physical meetings, potential funding for MAG members (selected applicants) is available through the IGF "Participant funding" program outlined at www.intgovforum.org/cms/mag/...<http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/mag/2144-eligibility-criteria-for-funding-a-…>. Note that this program is targeted only toward participants from Least Developed Countries, Developing Countries or Transitional Economies. Technical Community Representatives on the 2015 MAG includes the following people: * Xiaodong Lee (NIC CN, China) * Peter Dengate Thrush (Counsel, Barrister, New Zealand) * Michael Nelson (CloudFlare, USA) * Lynn St. Amour (Internet Matters, USA) * Izumi Okutani (JPNIC, Japan) * Susan Chalmers (Independent Consultant, USA) * Baher Esmat (ICANN, Egypt)* * Constance Bommelaer (ISOC, France)* * Flavio Wagner (CGI.br<http://cgi.br/>, Brazil) Candidates with a "*" by their names have stated that they not standing again for nomination. Privacy Statement The nominating committee is required to forward information provided by nominees on the MAG Nomination Form to the United Nations for purposes of the nomination. With the exception of candidates naming themselves, information provided to the NOMCOM for its consideration shall be treated in the strictest confidence Reply to Group Online<http://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/all-discussions/postreply/?M…> View Thread<https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…> Recommend<https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…> Forward<http://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/all-discussions/forwardmessa…> Flag as Inappropriate<https://connect.internetsociety.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer…> You are subscribed to "Chapter Leaders Community" as bekele(a)isoc.org<mailto:[email protected]>. To change your subscriptions, go to My Subscriptions<http://connect.internetsociety.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions>. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to Unsubscribe<http://connect.internetsociety.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?Use…>. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/

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India to decide on the Free Basic Internet end of January 2016
by Josh Kinoti 12 Jan '16

12 Jan '16

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/09/facebook-india-zuckerberg

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Re: [kictanet] Introducing Facebook Africa Public Policy Team to KICTANet
by Mwendwa Kivuva 12 Jan '16

12 Jan '16

Dr. Waudo, your questions are valid, and very well structured. This is what has been asked for some years now. And the idea of asking Facebook to come over is for them to school us too on their view of net neutrality. But find my attempt inline: On Dec 2, 2015 6:48 PM, "waudo siganga" <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> wrote: > > Hi Kivuva/Hussein. I need a little more enlightenment: > > 1. Is the "Zero-Rating" issue a debate or has it already been concluded that it is a bad thing? There is a hint that supporting it may leave one in not very good standing.. This has not been agreed upon. We would probably not get an answer to whether it is good or bad. But some countries have determined and outlawed zero rating, some analyze zero rating requests on case by case basis, and other have approved zero rating. > 2. According to Kivuva's well-written article "Zero rating infringes on fundamental human rights by denying users access to the Internet". Are other service providers, including those offering "full" Internet Access at a fee, stopped or hindered from offering their services when some companies offer the zero-rating? Can both forms operate at the same time? This is a great question. And it is probably the main selling point for zero rating. To answer the question, if you have a data package, you can access the Internet outside the zero rated area. I probably like the idea. But what are the root cause for using zero rating? Can we make the Internet affordable? > 3. In Q2 above I have "full" in quotes because in my use of Internet I am yet to come across a truly "neutral Internet" i.e. sometimes I try to access certain websites or services and you are unable as you get a message that you cannot access that site/service from your country, meaning many services providers already practise packet filtering. True. There are many ways in which net neutrality is infringed, and there are different legislation from country to country on those aspects. The one that has affected us more is bandwidth trotting, especially of bit torrent traffic. An ISP advertises unlimited Internet access at $$$, then when you start using more resources than they had anticipated, they tighten your pipe. Bandwidth trotting and protocol blocking was banned by EU in 2014. Mobile carriers used to block access to Skype because it hurts voice, calling, and text-messaging revenue. So part of why we have been calling for a Net Neutrality law in Kenya is to protect the consumer, and also have a stand. Currently, the ISP can do whatever they want. The model to adopt is upto the community. > 4. Hussein gives certain characteristics of a "market" but probably leaves out a very critical one: Choice. The best market is the one where ALL service providers are given the opportunity to offer their services and consumers are left to choose. At the end of the day it is the consumers that decide which companies and services survive and which wilt along the way. Why choose for the consumer beforehand by barring certain services or business models? Be careful before you imprison yourself with your own words :). In the same breath of choice, who decided which websites a consumer should have access to? Why choose for the consumer beforehand? :) Why limit consumer choice? At another level, consumers are not usually very knowledgeable in what they want, or even what is good for a country. I'm ready to bet that if one country allows zero rating, and another country provides reliable affordable broadband, then the one with affordable broadband will experience faster economic growth. This is just an hypothesis. > 5. A couple of years ago the cost and affordability of Internet access was a key ICT public policy issue. We said it was a major impediment to the spread of Internet use. How do we reconcile that with opposition to free (ok "free" as Hussein corrected me) services even if they are only offering a slice of what an open Internet offers. Cost and access are still very relevant especially in our region of the world. That was why the IGF theme was "connecting the next billion." And there are very great suggestions thrown around on how to reduce the cost. Licensing, competition, usf, infrastructure sharing, taxes,...... We are really disadvantaged when it comes to utilising the great benefits of the Internet. Now what happens when we shrink that space more? > > On a lighter note these days I am very happy with Facebook especially the Groups, as I get to know what is going on in the village. But I have been accessing them using a paid service perhaps I can save a few shillings if I got to know how to connect for free. And Facebook likes these case studies. I heard them happily say how they are helping women chamas organise themselves, and also organise civil activism to foster democracy in places like Myanmar. Well, I want that too :-) > > I know Kivuva and Hussein have had extensive opportunity to study this area of Zero-Rating and also to listen o experts so I apologize in advance if my questions do not sound sophisticated. > > Kind Regards, > Waudo > > On Wed, Dec 2, 2015, at 05:07 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva wrote: >> >> We are having the most vibrant debate on Net Neutrality on the list in a long while. Thanks for all contributors, and GG for initiating this timely discussion. It's exciting to see many people interested with the zero rating debate. I'm sure Ebele and Akua from Facebook are fascinated by the dynamism of this group. Thank you Ebele and Akua for graciously joining this debate. >> >> I'll keep my opinions to myself and only ask questions. >> >> >> >> 1. Does Facebook support Net Neutrality? >> >> 2. Does Facebook's zero rating contravene net neutrality principle? >> >> 3. Will Facebook take "zero rated services" to areas without any connectivity infrastructure? >> >> 4. Will Facebook zero rated services reach all the people, even those with feature phones? Does fb have non app based Free basics?. What percentage of your target market has access to smart phones? >> >> 5. Which network operators does Facebook work with? Are all ISPs welcomed to the party? >> >> 6. Will free basics help reduce the cost of internet access? >> >> 7. Does Facebook pay ISPs to offer the "walled garden" to end users? >> >> 8. Why is Facebook running campaigns for "free basics" in a way to suggest that it is giving free access to the internet? Is FB and a few vanilla websites the Internet? >> >> 9. Facebook is considered affluent. Would it consider providing free internet to everyone? >> >> 10. Is free basics bridging the digital divide or creating confusion of those who cannot differentiate between Facebook and the Internet? Is Facebook keen that users from the developing world have access to the whole wealth of knowledge and information that the Internet provides? >> >> >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Mwendwa Kivuva

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[Kicktanet] Does Airtel's Unliminet contravene the spirit of Net Neutrality?
by Martin Gicheru 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

Where do we as Kenyans stand on Airtel's Unliminet with regards to Net Neutrality? Or does it apply to Facebook Basics only? As you already know, with Unliminet, users can subscribe to various plans > and in return get "unlimited" access to social media (Whatsapp, Instagram, > Facebook and Twitter) with every bundle purchase besides some voice minutes > and text messages. Isn't this against the principles of net neutrality? > Read the argument here <http://forums.techweez.com/t/airtels-unliminet-and-net-neutrality-where-do-…> . Regards, Martin Gicheru

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] WEBINAR on January 12, 2016: WHOIS Accuracy Reporting System Phase 2 Report
by Bob Omondi 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

Dear Listers, Some of you may be interested in this... Regards Bob. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> Date: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 12:35 PM Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] WEBINAR on January 12, 2016: WHOIS Accuracy Reporting System Phase 2 Report To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> Dear all, Just to remind you for the webinar scheduled for tomorrow. Thanks - Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager – Africa ICANN – www.icann.org Mobile : +229 66015649 / 97891228 From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> Date: Thursday, January 7, 2016 8:44 AM To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> Subject: WEBINAR on January 12, 2016: WHOIS Accuracy Reporting System Phase 2 Report Dear all, Participants will learn about the results of the Phase 2 study, which acts as a follow-on to the Phase 1 report <https://whois.icann.org/sites/default/files/files/whois-ars-phase-1-report-…> [PDF, 1.4 MB] published in August 2015. In Phase 2, ICANN measured both the overall syntax (formatting) and operability accuracy of a sample of WHOIS records in gTLDs. The results include comparisons based on Registrar Accreditation Agreements (2009 RAA v. 2013 RAA), top-level domain types (e.g., new or "legacy" gTLDs) and across ICANN regions. Please read more at https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2016-01-06-en Thanks - Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager – Africa ICANN – www.icann.org Mobile : +229 66015649 / 97891228 _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 104, Issue 19
by James Wamathai 11 Jan '16

11 Jan '16

I don't think they know how Netflix works and in any case the service is compliant in that it gives the user the ability to create a kids account where there will only be kids content. But even if we were talk regulation, I don't see how they would do that. Interested to see how this plays out. ----- [image: hapa kenya] <http://www.hapakenya.com> james wamathai / managing editor +254-722 352239/ jw(a)hapakenya.com http://www.hapakenya.com [image: Facebook] <http://facebook.com/uqweli> [image: Twitter] <http://htmlsig.com/#%23%23%23> [image: Google Plus] <https://plus.google.com/+JamesWamathai/> [image: Linkedin] <https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=88118555> [image: Instagram] <http://instagram.com/uqweli> [image: Skype] <http://htmlsig.com/#%23%23%23%23%23> On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 8:08 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: Netflix to be regulated by KFCB in Kenya (Ali Hussein) > 2. Re: Netflix to be regulated by KFCB in Kenya (Ngigi Waithaka) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 19:48:32 +0300 > From: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> > To: Ngigi Waithaka <ngigi(a)at.co.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Netflix to be regulated by KFCB in Kenya > Message-ID: <1F1F5ACE-EB62-4904-92DB-F70B030D80D1(a)hussein.me.ke> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Ngigi > > Interesting question. My question to KFCB is:- > > What makes them think they can regulate Netflix when they have been unable > to Regulate torrents? > > Ali Hussein > Principal > Hussein & Associates > +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > Skype: abu-jomo > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > Blog: www.alyhussein.com > > "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 8 Jan 2016, at 7:41 PM, Ngigi Waithaka <ngigi(a)at.co.ke> wrote: > > > > Ali, > > > > I am actually aware that you can now watch Netflix while IN Kenya > without having to use those VPN accounts... > > > > Does that mean Netflix is operating IN Kenya and hence can be regulated? > > > > Suppose I stream Fifty Shades of Grey, which is currently banned in > Kenya by KFCB, from a Netflix Server hosted in the US, does that require > regulation? > > > > Rgds > > > >> On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 7:16 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> wrote: > >> Ngigi > >> > >> Netflix is available in Kenya from yesterday. > >> > >> Good luck to KFCB trying to regulate them. > >> > >> Ali Hussein > >> Principal > >> Hussein & Associates > >> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 > >> > >> Twitter: @AliHKassim > >> Skype: abu-jomo > >> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim > >> Blog: www.alyhussein.com > >> > >> "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 8 Jan 2016, at 7:07 PM, Ngigi Waithaka via kictanet < > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > >>> > >>> Hi Listers, > >>> > >>> I just came across this > >>> > http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Netflix-should-be-subject… > >>> > >>> Looks like the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) wants to > regulate Netflix. > >>> > >>> I then wonder, is Netflix IN Kenya or is it allowing Kenyans to access > it? > >>> > >>> When I think of DSTV, which I think is broadcast from SA, every film > classification is as per the classification in SA. I don't think I have > ever seen a film that implies a classification criteria that involves KFCB. > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Regards, > >>> > >>> Waithaka Ngigi > >>> Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod > Building > >>> T +254 20 525 0750 |Office Mobile: +254 716 201061 | M +254 737 811 000 > >>> www.at.co.ke > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> 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. > > > > > > > > -- > > Regards, > > > > Waithaka Ngigi > > Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod > Building > > T +254 20 525 0750 |Office Mobile: +254 716 201061 | M +254 737 811 000 > > www.at.co.ke >

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Online Violence Against Women
by Ebele Okobi 10 Jan '16

10 Jan '16

Dear All- Facebook is hosting a roundtable to discuss the issue of online violence against women and our platforms, in Nairobi, likely in February. This is mostly about learning from key women’s rights orgs and others with a clear view on the scope of the issue and with ideas for how to address it. We’ll also talk about some of the things we are doing already, with the view to learning how to do better. It will be hosted in Nairobi, but it’s meant to be a regional conversation, so we plan to fly in important voices from across sub-Saharan Africa. We’d be grateful for recommendations on excellent people to include. We want to keep it small enough to have a meaningful conversation, so we are thinking about 30 people total. Recommendations? You can reply on this list, or directly to Akua, who is cc’ed. Best, Ebele [Description: Description: Description: cid:[email protected]] Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315 2 Stephen St | London | W1T 1AN ebeleokobi(a)fb.com

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Kenya Proposes law for Telcos to share infrastructure
by Ali Hussein 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

Listers Looks like the new regime is moving posthaste.. http://news.yahoo.com/kenya-proposes-law-phone-companies-share-networks-min… Long overdue. Kudos to the new team. Ali Hussein Principal Hussein & Associates +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "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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