Yes John, Agreed we leave the subject for another day. Just remember we are always available for consultations Thxs --- John Kariuki <jnkariuki@gmail.com> wrote:
Alex, I wish that things were that simple. However, regulation by code raises very serious legal issues as it amounts to "privatisation of law making" but this is a subject of another day!
On 8/22/07, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru@yahoo.com> wrote:
Precisely! Why should the author conclude "It is
time
for legislators and regulators to step in." It smacks of a call for government net control while instead end users should continue developing their own codes to make the internet to grow.
Q: Which Legislators? Kenya,EA,EU,Congress.. Q: Which Regulators? CCK, OfCOM, FCC..
The internet's success was based on the following reasons: "HISTORY: WE OWE IT ALL TO THE HIPPIES"
1. "Access to computers should be unlimited and total." 2. "All information should be free." 3. "Mistrust authority - promote decentralization." 4. "You can create art and beauty on a computer." 5. "Computers can change your life for the better."
http://members.aye.net/~hippie/hippie/special_.htm
The article to me sounds like building blocks justifying grounds from Mugabe's and the Chinese to censor internet and we all know the favourite entry points (separately below could also be one such)
---- Separately,
http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2587&Itemid=5813
We note "Consumer Bill to boost online transactions" and welcome this government move.
Our Consumers Association was not informed, or involved in the background policy formulation process if and/or when that took place. Further, the Bill is not listed at http://www.kenyalaw.org/Bills/ so I may not have specifics.
Overall, our interpretation is that this Bill's intention is just similar to the Government's NGO Coordination Board that checks for CS registrations, etc. for govt - while the Civil Society have an own "industry" NGO Council that deals with their dear "end-user" (in this case ICT consumers) issues.
KEBS-we have a BIG consumer issue on their "closed" endorsement of Microsoft-sponsored OOXML standard i.e. without open and wide industry consultations.
If Ms Catherine Ngahu, were on this list perhaps she would have clarified apparently because Internet consumer protection stands out on the story.
In principle, ICAK welcomes this bill, wishes later government appointees well and we hope to interact with them at a convenient moment in the future (after the bill is passed.)
Thxs
-- John Kariuki <jnkariuki@gmail.com> wrote:
Alex, For your information,the original Internet was not regulated. However, after commercialization in the early 1990's we see a lot of regulation, not by laws passed by legislators or regulators BUT by the "Codes"made by programmers who determine what you can or cannot do on the Internet.
JN
On 8/21/07, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru@yahoo.com> wrote:
I disagree with Sam Vaknin's arguments
Internet!"
"It is time for legislators and regulators to step in. Even a moderate dose of legislation and the willingness not to succumb to either to mob or to business pressures will go a long way towards restoring the Internet to its original
civilized and lawful - not to mention
"Regulate the purpose: the pleasurable -
exchange of information and opinion over computer networks."
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=34976
But Greek and Latin owe their humbling
esteem to regard, value, and placing the essence of a good debate far above time-tied points of view. Thus, I am happy in Kenya recently I attended a meeting only to find all asked to satisfactorily justify
support of THE OPPOSITE point of view. How clever of them....
"Democracy is hard, perhaps the most complex and difficult of all forms of government. It is filled with tensions and contradictions, and requires
philosophical their that
its members labor diligently to make it work. Democracy is not designed for efficiency, but for accountability; a democratic government may not be able to act as quickly as a dictatorship, but once committed to a course of action it can draw upon deep wellsprings of popular support,"
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/democracy/
This is the space all citizens are obliged to aggressively defend and not so quickly entrust
it to
powerful government leaders submerged in own interests.
Let's debate some more Brian!
--- Brian Longwe <brian@isisweb.nl> wrote:
SMS is not allowed in Ethiopia - let alone media freedom or conducive legislation ..... it is not fair to compare a country with such advanced civil liberties as Kenya with a dictatorial regime.
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