Re the scratch card - It is very unusual for that to happen. I would like to have more details about the card if you still have it. On sms we will not be censoring or reading any messages but propose to have a filter that could block messages that contain unacceptable words. Nothing has been decided but the new smsc has this option. We are committed to responsible marketing and this includes setting up systems to block pornography etc. We know this raises important issues and we will consult before deciding anything. Michael Joseph CEO Safaricom Limited BlackBerry powered by Safaricom ----- Original Message ----- From: Edith Adera <eadera@idrc.or.ke> To: Michael Joseph Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tue Jan 29 15:04:41 2008 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations Michael and Walu, Indeed the mood is dampened! Two points: *to Michael - I bought a scratch card this morning that gave me less money than printed on the card! What's happening? * Both of you have raised interesting issues that need further discussions - effects of the ban vs possible censorship of content by Safaricom as indicated by Michael. In a situation of media ban the only "live" coverage is informal networks and under these circumstances sms' come in very handy, so people are able to move "live" news quickly to family, relatives and friends. It worries me to hear Michael taut censorship of sms content. It raises many issues: - is there infringement of personal rights in reading people's sms content to determine which is suitable to censor? - who makes this decision? - should we feel exposed? In addition to discussing these issues, I strongly feel we need to do something practical to support those suffering..... kind regards Edith At / À 14:09 29/01/2008, Michael Joseph wrote / a écrit:
I think we are all trying to deal with the crisis which seems to grow every day with no-one seemingly concerned enough to stop it.
With regard to the scratch card prices, the problem was, and is still to some extent, the disruption of our supply lines due to the violence and the closing of the banking network for more than 10 days. In a, mostly, informal economy, the impact of lengthy bank closures has a significant impact on the economy and is even outlawed in some countries. The problem is that stocks are kept to a minimum due to cash flow and security problems. So if there is a minor blip this does lead to significant shortages. We are looking, as are others, for alternative solutions to deal with this problem.
At one point we became a bank and collected billions of shillings in cash (and stored them in our vaults) from dealers in order to get the supply process going.
Fortunately we never experienced severe disruption to our network except for some areas in Western (where else) due to the inability to get diesel fuel to some key sites. But the threat was always there.
The other threat worth mentioning is the ever increasing hostile hate SMSs which were circulating after the elections and continue to circulate. We are introducing a filtering system which will hopefully stop some of them, but we must realize that the communications networks are vital in times of unrest and if we are forced to close down some elements to stop these hate messages, the impact could be felt even more widely and may even introduce panic. We must guard our freedom but we must also act responsibly to protect that freedom. I know I am preaching to the choir, and may even encourage some debate, but it is a fine line in these critical times.
Regards,
Michael
CEO Safaricom Limited
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of John Walubengo Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 9:45 AM To: Michael Joseph Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 of 5 - Challenges Posed byPost-ElectionViolence on ICT Organisations
mmhh, looks like very few contributions. I understand the dampened mood. But really, we have to talk. Unless you guys want us to bring Koffi Anaan here to make us share...
Anyway, Thanx Alex, Bill, and Brian for your contributions so far. I was just thinking at a national level...the impact so far. 1. Mobile Operators (earlier in the fracas I bought a scratch card worth 250sh for 500sh, black market rates) 2. BPO projects (whats happening at Kencall and others?) 3. ICT Board (with World Bank threatening to hold back funds, what happens to the Infrastructure projects that were to provide Bandwidth to BPOs and Academia?) 4. Media (how are you coping with the live transmission ban?) 6. ISPs, ASPs, Cybercafes (any impacts) 7. Our members in the region UG, RW (any impacts?)
Plse talk, we have only four more days to go. It is refreshing to talk about this things. It is part of the healing process.
walu.
--- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru@yahoo.com> wrote:
Ok, I was silent because Brain Longwe had earlier asked that the list be what it was meant to be. Since that position has changed, I want to start with "funny" joke. We have a saying in this regard.
Have you been one of those who have tried or struggled to guess the tribe of the person sending emails to mailing lists? Please own up:) Last week we considered assessing the psychological consequences the crisis was having on consumers with regard to email and blogs posts.
It turned out that some tried to "align" their views on e-mail senders whom they perceived (or imagined?) to be of the same or "friendly" tribes. Our conclusion, listers were not tribal, yet the stress, politics and media had forced them to seek tribal alignments. We were happy to discover that.
Next we discussed tensions at workplace Telkom Kenya being our sample. We learnt how badly it had divided staff there. We overheard employee conversations! We wished companies would hold extra parties to lessen tensions at work. I have just noticed a ke-users lister has posted a very positive message. Their HR department today held an organisation-wide counselling session. That was excellent. All companies should start similar initiatives. Thanks Saidimu!
Terrible for us because when we engaging Telcos and ISPs we never ask for okuyu, jang or kale etc tariffs or quality of service standards. Our engagement covers coast to lake, Turkana to Namanga, Garissa to Busia.
At such moments, Information and Communications Consumer protection is more than ever necessary. We are battling rights of the people know on one hand, on the other we are urging responsibility to accompany freedom of expression, fighting against ban on live broadcasts also aware of the dangers of misuse, against sms sniffing very aware of misinformation dangers.
We noted and appreciated the media's own intervention early and responsibility but also appreciate the role of government to protect everyone.
This thread is on the challenges hence I stop there for now to hear others' lest I be accused of monopolising on opinion. I will be back;)
Regards,
Alex
--- John Walubengo <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
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