[kictanet] Talk to NCIC Day 3: Government Regulation of Fake News

Sat Aug 19 10:16:06 EAT 2017

Good point Brian.

To add, I always as a rule discount any message which ends with 'SENT AS
RECEIVED' by 75%. I then read and verify, then decide whether to forward or
not. I believe lots of Fake News won't see the light of day if we choose to
exercise caution. Often we don't even read and only send because the
headlines have caught our eyes.

*Ali Hussein*

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On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 3:30 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Unfortunately the originators of fake news tend to use pseudonyms or fake
> identities to mask their true identities. IMHO these are the real culprits;
> people who repeat/resend/republish the fake news might actually have been
> duped into believing that it is authentic. How then does one go about
> catching/pinpointing the bad guys/gals?
>
> On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 2:07 PM, Adam Lane via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> I think that IF there is to be a civil crime/penalty for such an act
>> there should be a distinction made between the creators of false,
>> misleading or fictitious data and those who spread it (creating it should
>> incur a greater penalty than spreading it).
>>
>>
>>
>> Certainly IF this is the case, then a deterrence for those spreading the
>> news will ensure people do read, research and assess before spreading, and
>> this is important. Too many people not only are not assessing such news but
>> are spreading it, and because others may trust them, the news is inherently
>> trusted by the reader; whereas if the reader was sent the news from an
>> unrelated person they would have more suspicion towards the news. Such a
>> deterrence would be a good thing.
>>
>>
>>
>> IF this bill becomes an act, it will be interesting to see how it will be
>> enforced. It would be fairly simple to set-up a reporting mechanism but
>> harder to ensure fines are paid (though such fines would cover the costs of
>> any monitoring mechanism; it may be useful to have a set standard for fines
>> to ensure prompt and fair action, just like traffic offenses).
>>
>>
>>
>> The issue of real-name social media accounts, linking accounts to sim
>> cards etc would be thorny; let alone the mechanisms to collect fines in
>> such large numbers.
>>
>>
>>
>> Is there a way that one does not need a fine, instead individuals may
>> value their personal reputation enough to not forward fake news? If we
>> constantly forward fake news (and if it is recognized as such at some
>> point), don’t we lose our social capital, and thus limit this behavior?
>> Just like in the offline world… if we value our reputations?
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+adam.lane=
>> huawei.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *kanini mutemi via
>> kictanet
>> *Sent:* Friday, August 18, 2017 2:27 PM
>> *To:* Adam Lane <adam.lane at huawei.com>
>> *Cc:* kanini mutemi <kaninimutemi at gmail.com>
>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Talk to NCIC Day 3: Government Regulation of
>> Fake News
>>
>>
>>
>> I have attached a copy of the *Computer and Cybercrimes Bill, 2017 *published
>> on 13th June, 2017. Clause 12 reads:
>>
>> *'A person who intentionally publishes false, misleading or fictitious
>> data or misinforms with intent that the data shall be considered or acted
>> upon as authentic, with or without any financial gain, commits an offence
>> and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million
>> shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to
>> both.'*
>>
>> Is there a drawback to this approach? 
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Mercy Mutemi*.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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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.
>
>
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