[kictanet] NSA Tapping into Google & Yahoo Networks? How is Kenya protected?

Mon Nov 4 09:30:07 EAT 2013

@Watila,

OK. Looks true that security concerns were driving data away from the US as far back as 2008.  But still the same article points to my earlier fact that Asia's internet traffic was growing exponentially such that the bulk of internet data exchange was to eventually shift outside the US - with or without the US Patriot Act.

Bottom line is whether you host locally, abroad or on Pluto, the US will snoop on you if they need to. Only benefit as Sammy puts it,  is that at least you get to be sued locally if you happen to be the local data provider who was snooped on :-).  

walu.

--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 10/31/13, Alex Watila <awatila at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

 Subject: RE: [kictanet] NSA Tapping into Google & Yahoo Networks? How is Kenya protected?
 To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu at yahoo.com>
 Cc: "'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
 Date: Thursday, October 31, 2013, 7:35 PM

 Walu,

 See the link http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30pipes.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&
 Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S.

 “Since passage of the Patriot Act, many companies based
 outside of the United States have been reluctant to store
 client information in the U.S.,” said Marc Rotenberg,
 executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information
 Center in Washington. “There is an ongoing concern that
 U.S. intelligence agencies will gather this information
 without legal process. There is particular sensitivity about
 access to financial information as well as communications
 and Internet traffic that goes through U.S. switches.”

 -----Original Message-----
 From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+awatila=yahoo.co.uk at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
 On Behalf Of Walubengo J
 Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 5:33 PM
 To: awatila at yahoo.co.uk
 Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] NSA Tapping into Google & Yahoo
 Networks? How is Kenya protected?

 Watila,

 Even though you dont quote your sources, I suspect it is
 true that Internet traffic routed through the USA is
 reducing.  But I doubt that it has anything to do with
 security issues because technically, as you know internet
 routing is based on "best-effort" principles.  Packets
 look for the most efficient routes which happen to be around
 the biggest Internet eXchange Points (IXPs).

 It so happens that rapid internet uptake in Asia Pacific
 (China, Korea, India, Indonesia etc), is presenting newer
 and bigger IXPs as those in the US reach maturity levels.
 And so the internet geography is indeed changing and more
 internet routing is going to be happening in Asia Pacific
 (think China).

 That's why for me, the emphasis on the geography (where
 packets are routed) at the expense of the principles and
 practices of cyber-security is quite worrying.

 walu.

 --------------------------------------------
 On Thu, 10/31/13, Watila Alex <awatila at yahoo.co.uk>
 wrote:

  Subject: Re: [kictanet] NSA Tapping into Google & Yahoo
 Networks? How is Kenya protected?
  To: jwalu at yahoo.com
  Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
  Date: Thursday, October 31, 2013, 4:10 PM

  in the last few years the
  amount of traffic routed through the usa by other
 countries  has dropped because of the same
 concerns  Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

    From:

              Phares
 Kariuki
  <pkariuki at gmail.com>; 

    To:

               <awatila at yahoo.co.uk>;   

    Cc:

    KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
  <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>; 

    Subject:

              Re:
 [kictanet] NSA Tapping into
  Google & Yahoo Networks? How is Kenya protected? 

    Sent:

              Thu,
 Oct 31, 2013 7:09:34 AM    

          I’ll very
 selfishly  advocate for an increased uptake of local
 cloud services,  away from the NSA’s prying eyes,
 with locally established  standards of encryption
 etc…  We’ve got capable  universities that can
 assist in coming up with new  encryption etc standards
 for the military &  government.  Interesting
 article by  Charles
   Obbo…. http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Spy-more-on-your-friends-than-foes/-/440808/2053660/-/j8oy4g/-/index.html

  --
  Phares
  Kariuki
   From: Ngigi
  Waithaka Ngigi
  Waithaka
  Reply: Ngigi Waithaka ngigi at at.co.ke
  Date: October 31, 2013 at 9:12:10
  AM
  To: Phares
  Kariuki pkariuki at gmail.com
  Subject:
  [kictanet] NSA Tapping into Google & Yahoo Networks?
 How  is Kenya protected? 

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 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
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 KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
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 or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do
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