[kictanet] Gambia Shuts Down the Internet

Mon Dec 5 17:38:47 EAT 2016

Sounds unlikely.

>From a practical point of view, to 'shut down' internet access would require:

(1) Telling all ISPs to switch off (is there any legal basis for doing
so which would require them to comply??)

(2) Gaining physical access to KIXP, and switching off (which would
stop inter-ISP local traffic)

(3) Gaining physical access to cable landing stations, and switching
off (which would (mostly) cut us off from the rest of the world)

I would guess the largest partial shut down (ie. affecting the
greatest number of users) could be achieved by telling Safaricom to
shut down data services, and then progressively other ISPs in order of
their client base.

Then there are those using VSAT services - much harder (but not
impossible) to shut down.

Monitoring? -- Yes, but can be done from anywhere - unlikely that
Embakasi would be chosen.

I have no knowledge of the veracity of the 'rumour' - but I think it
is just that: a rumour - with no basis in fact ;)

Cheers,
Tony

On 05/12/2016, Mutemi wa Kiama via kictanet
<kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> Any truth in the rumour that GoK is building a facility to help it do
> exactly that (shut down internet and/or social media if need be, monitor
> social media and online spaces, etc) during the 2017 election season at the
> Embakasi Garrison? Ominous!
>
> Edwin Kiama
>
> Thoughts become things... choose the good ones!
>
>
>
>
> *-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------**Social
> Justice Entrepreneur, Human Rights Defender, *
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>
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>
> On Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 3:21 PM, Mose Karanja via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> With all due respect to declarations and statements, I think non-binding
>> norms and principles are very limited in preventing technical decisions
>> in
>> domestic places.
>> Much more needs to be done on the technical front to make Internet
>> shutdowns as expensive as possible to governments. If a significant
>> number
>> of people are able to circumvent a partial shutdown, governments would
>> reconsider their decisions since they lose economically with no political
>> ends attained - in this case preventing people to assemble and organize
>> online.
>>
>> Declarations help immensely to shape the long term debate but I don’t
>> ever
>> remember any government that failed to act on a shutdown directive
>> because
>> International law says so.
>>
>> ---
>> Moses.
>>
>> On 5 Dec 2016, at 06:38, kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1. Re: Gambia Shuts Down the Internet (Joash Moitui)
>>
>> *From: *Joash Moitui <joash.moitui at gmail.com>
>> *Subject: **Re: [kictanet] Gambia Shuts Down the Internet*
>> *Date: *5 December 2016 at 06:36:17 EAT
>> *To: *KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> As part of the civil society practicum participants in the Afrisig 2016,
>> our first statement called for a complete denunciation of the internet
>> shutdowns. But as we progressed on the final statement, we realized that
>> hardline positions taken by every multi-stakeholder groups only meant
>> that
>> discussions couldn't proceed further. Concessions had to be made to make
>> this joint statement a reality and this is the situation in actual 'real
>> life' situations and negotiations that involve multi-stakeholder groups,
>> be
>> it in IG, climate change talks and even international trade negotiations.
>>
>> Please see attached the civil society 'hardline' statement before
>> concessions were made.
>>
>> warm regards,
>>
>>
>> *---*
>> *Joash Ntenga Moitui*
>> Research Fellow
>> Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies
>> Daphton Court, A2
>> Riverside Drive
>> P O Box 23748 00100
>> Nairobi
>> Office: +254.20.5270577 <+254%2020%205270577>
>>
>> Cell: +254.728.688726 <+254%20728%20688726>
>> Email: jmoitui at chrips.or.ke <emayiera at chrips.or.ke>
>> Skype: joash.norman
>> www.chrips.or.ke
>> <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/e06567813c1704f38943fbc3703d45b891020a34?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chrips.or.ke%2F&signature=bb02717690357592>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 5, 2016 at 5:09 AM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Ali,
>>>
>>> Easy :-).
>>>
>>> It was a consensus document by students learning Internet Governance.
>>> And
>>> the consensus was reached because participants were made to stay up
>>> until
>>> 1am (It happens in real life anyway). So some gave up so that they can
>>> catch up with their sleep. Just that you know, those who played the role
>>> of
>>> government and put that clause allowing "some shutdowns" were actually
>>> civil society practitioners in real life :)
>>>
>>> Have you ever noticed how people change when they get into government?
>>> They literally wear a different cap. Like the reminders being sent on
>>> the
>>> list requesting some information from government. It's like asking for
>>> blood donation from a housefly.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> ______________________
>>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
>>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5 December 2016 at 05:44, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Mwendwa
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for sharing this. I'm of the hardline stance. No Internet
>>>> Shutdowns. Period. Let me share some excerpts:-
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>    1. We also recognize that there are cases when Internet shutdowns
>>>>    are a means to ensuring the wellbeing of citizens, such as during
>>>> cyber
>>>>    attacks from outside the country, military attacks and terrorist
>>>> activity.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>    1. We recommend that the independent national multistakeholder
>>>>    commissions on Internet Shutdowns be guided by the following:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>    - National security and public order
>>>>    - Transparency & accountability
>>>>    - Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
>>>>    - Necessity & proportionality
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> We are just opening the door to a slippery slop of legitimizing such
>>>> actions. Can you imagine a Government in Africa calling
>>>> 'Mulit-Stakeholders' together to determine a shutdown?  You will just
>>>> have
>>>> a bunch of rubber stumpers trooping to 'Government House' to lend their
>>>> hand.
>>>>
>>>> We stand a snowball's chance in hell before that happens. Having said
>>>> that I do appreciate the efforts that have gone into this and commend
>>>> all
>>>> the players who were involved in drafting this. If nothing else it will
>>>> continue to highlight the risks we continue to face.
>>>>
>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>> *Principal*
>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>> +254 0713 601113 <+254%20713%20601113>
>>>>
>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking
>>>> what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>> On 4 Dec 2016, at 10:00 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Speaking of declarations Grace Mutung'u,
>>>>
>>>> The African School on Internet Governance (AFRISIG) class of 2016, in
>>>> their practicum came up with a statement on Internet shutdown. All
>>>> stakeholder groups, including Government, Civil Society, Academia,
>>>> Business, and Technical community agreed that the statement was
>>>> balanced
>>>> http://afrisig.org/afrisig-2016/statement-on-an-int
>>>> entional-internet-shutdown/
>>>>
>>>> It took 4 days to produce the statement through wider consultations and
>>>> consensus building. Probably this is a statement that can be expounded
>>>> upon.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> ______________________
>>>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
>>>> twitter.com/lordmwesh
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 3 December 2016 at 21:39, Grace Mutung'u via kictanet <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Poncelet,
>>>>> Thank you for sharing. I cannot imagine the effect of a 52 hour
>>>>> complete and deliberate shutdown. We are glad to have you back online.
>>>>> Welcome back!
>>>>> I agree with you that we must continue to promote the African
>>>>> Declaration, now more than ever. Incidentally, I have not come across
>>>>> any
>>>>> pronouncements by the African Union on this matter of Internet
>>>>> shutdowns.
>>>>> Have you?
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> PS: The African Declaration is here: http://africaninternetrights.org/
>>>>>
>>>>> 2016-12-03 17:24 GMT+03:00 Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Poncelet
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Congratulations to all in The Gambia. And to the incumbent for
>>>>>> accepting the defeat even with the shut down he initiated.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One other thing..We can actually calculate the cost of Internet
>>>>>> Shutdowns. Last year countries lost $2.4 billion. See link:-
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/intenet
>>>>>> -shutdowns-v-3.pdf
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>> *Principal*
>>>>>> *Hussein & Associates*
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,
>>>>>> Chiromo Road, Westlands,
>>>>>> Nairobi, Kenya.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are
>>>>>> purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 3:20 PM, Poncelet Ileleji via kictanet <
>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Grace,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It was 52 Hours complete shutdown starting 8"08pm on election eve on
>>>>>>> the 30th of Nov and it was officially announced on TV that it was
>>>>>>> going to
>>>>>>> be down no secret about it,International Lines cut off too later
>>>>>>> local SMS
>>>>>>> weas also cut off, we came back online 12:30pm yesterday
>>>>>>> coincidentally
>>>>>>> after the incumbent had conceded defeat to the Coalition flag bearer
>>>>>>> ending
>>>>>>> 22 years of his rule.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We need to promote more and more  the African Declaration of
>>>>>>> Internet
>>>>>>> rights so our leaders know it matters in the true sense of the word
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> economic loss alone, we cant quantify, the joy here in the Gambia
>>>>>>> its
>>>>>>> basically the digital natives those born after  the outgoing leader
>>>>>>> came to
>>>>>>> power  1994 that basically voted him out,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Well enjoy the weekend, have loads to say, but will talk later on
>>>>>>> this.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kind Regards
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Poncelet
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 2 December 2016 at 01:06, Grace Mutung'u via kictanet <
>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Listers,
>>>>>>>> Internet shutdowns are almost becoming a part of African elections
>>>>>>>> and reports indicate that Gambia has taken this step ahead of
>>>>>>>> elections
>>>>>>>> tomorrow. With an added twist- calls also seem to be blocked.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> A few months ago we discussed the Ugandan shutdown where we went at
>>>>>>>> length into the techniques employed, including electricity
>>>>>>>> blackouts. With
>>>>>>>> our own elections round the corner, a few questions:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Is anyone concerned that Kenya may also have a shutdown come
>>>>>>>> elections?
>>>>>>>> In the (hopefully hypothetical) case that we had a shutdown, who
>>>>>>>> would effect it? ISPs? MNOs? Kenya Power?
>>>>>>>> And who would give the orders? The Government? The Regulator?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hoping that these are just hypothetical musings.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Grace
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
>>>>>>>> Nairobi Kenya
>>>>>>>> Skype: gracebomu
>>>>>>>> Twitter: @Bomu
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/pileleji%40ymca.gm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 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
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>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS
>>>>>>> Coordinator
>>>>>>> The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre & Digital Studio
>>>>>>> MDI Road Kanifing South
>>>>>>> P. O. Box 421 Banjul
>>>>>>> The Gambia, West Africa
>>>>>>> Tel: (220) 4370240 <(220)%20437-0240>
>>>>>>> Fax:(220) 4390793 <(220)%20439-0793>
>>>>>>> Cell:(220) 9912508 <(220)%20991-2508>
>>>>>>> Skype: pons_utd
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *www.ymca.gm <http://www.ymca.gm/>http://jokkolabs.net/en/
>>>>>>> <http://jokkolabs.net/en/>www.waigf.org
>>>>>>> <http://www.waigf.org/>www,insistglobal.com
>>>>>>> <http://www.itag.gm/>www.npoc.org
>>>>>>> <http://www.npoc.org/>http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753
>>>>>>> <http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753>*www.diplointernetgovernance.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 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,
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/nmutungu%40gmail.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.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
>>>>> Nairobi Kenya
>>>>> Skype: gracebomu
>>>>> Twitter: @Bomu
>>>>>
>>>>> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>>>>>
>>>>> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>>
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>>>>> ailman/options/kictanet/lordmwesh%40gmail.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.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/m
>>>> ailman/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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 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.
>>>
>>
>> <Civil Society Statement on Internet Shutdown.docx>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 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.
>>
>

-- 
Tony White