[kictanet] [important considerations for African Researchers] Facebook Content Policy Research Initiative-Request for Proposals March 15
Mwendwa Kivuva
Kivuva at transworldafrica.com
Thu Feb 14 10:36:34 EAT 2019
Any data driven research especially on Africa is highly welcomed.
This is a good move from Facebook. I hope one of the research comes from
the continent
On Wed, Feb 13, 2019, 11:59 PM Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:
> Dear Listers,
>
> It is my hope that interested African government agencies, researchers and
> institutions will recognize that *content safety management is now an
> existential issue for this > $10 Billion Revenue company (with ~$164
> Billion market cap)* due to its own failure to foresee or mitigate the
> problem during early stages.
>
> I believe that Facebook has certain *structural deficiencies* (which I
> will outline below) that African Government agencies, academic institutions
> and researchers can use as a basis for their own *negotiating leverage* -
> and such *high-value leverage should not be thrown away* (unless we are
> not serious about ending poverty).
>
> The key point being that *no offer/invitation by billion dollar MNCs
> should be accepted at face value* without a proper understanding of the *real
> *direct/imputed *commercial value of the research* being proposed /
> invited;
>
> The company's top decision-makers should, IMO, be invited to *sit at the
> table* with government, institutional and researcher representatives to
> make a *proper *and more * meaningful* offer.
>
> *Facebook structural deficiencies:*
>
> 1. The company reportedly has* very poor diversity ratios* for a
> globally operating company that is very powerful in *Africa *(i.e.
> they have only* ~1% black* *employees *worldwide in technical roles,
> and less than 2% in management - mostly *African Americans* or *naturalized
> immigrants *I believe). Therefore the company has *very little
> understanding* *of - or tangible commitment to - Africa*.
>
> This lack of multicultural diversity is turning out to be a *major
> strategic blunder* for them as it potentially has implications on
> their long-term commercial viability in grossly underrepresented areas e.g.
> Africa.
>
> What they are now looking for, with respect to Africa, *can only be
> obtained in Africa*. This is very important.
>
> *RECOMMENDATION for African Researchers / institutions:* Do not share
> your unique local cultural knowledge and insights *for PEANUTS*, or *one-time
> gains *(whereas the requesting company will benefit for many decades
> or more).
>
> The company should pay *both *the *researchers* and *the institutions*
> a *proper premium* that reflects the *real long term value* of the
> local and cultural insights being offered - and the probable fact that they
> probably cannot obtain such insights *anywhere else on this planet*.
>
> Smart institutions (and/or government agencies) will also request for
> a *perpetual royalties clause* (fixed amount or ratio) for whatever
> findings gets implemented - and a long term ability to claim (>20 years) to
> help fund ongoing research in other areas (or to incubate small businesses).
>
>
> 2. I believe the company only has *one office in Africa*
> (Johannesburg) representing all of Africa's *1.2 BILLION people *(guessing
> *~<30 staff* mostly low level, but the company can give clearer
> picture). It also appears like the *top roles for Africa* operate from
> their UK Office, effectively denying African governments *PAYE taxes *and
> *economic gains* of locally based employees. Because the decision
> makers are not based here, it is hard for them to genuinely empathise with
> local issues.
>
> Contrast with at least *3 offices,* estimated *> 1,000 high quality
> jobs *in *India* (+ ~>5,000 Non-resident Indians in the US) and
> meaningful partnerships with *India's Indigenous IT consulting
> companies *which I would estimate to be worth *hundreds of millions in
> US dollars*. I believe Facebook can give more precise numbers if
> requested.
>
> Its plans for Nairobi's "moderation center" does not appear to involve
> setting up a *proper registered presence* - in accordance with
> provisions of the *Companies Act* (the way Google and Microsoft have
> done) as it appears to be a wholly outsourced and strictly low level
> arrangement, to create *dirty jobs* that could impose a *huge
> long-term health and safety burden* for the country.
>
> My guess is that the primary motivator for what appears to be their
> current *potentially illegal business *operation in Kenya (i.e. they
> are *selling ads* in Kenya on behalf of *local businesses* but don't
> seem to be registered locally e.g. contrary to requirements for
> registration of foreign companies in* section 974* of the *Companies
> Act*) is *aggressive tax avoidance* because the company has enough
> resources to do the right thing.
>
> *Meanwhile thousands of our highly skilled Technology graduates are
> jobless.*
>
> *RECOMMENDATION for African Researchers / institutions:* Silicon
> Valley companies, like Facebook, should be asked to show *meaningful
> commitment to Africa* by establishing *at least one* locally staffed*
> engineering, support *and *management office* in *each *of the
> different* economic blocks* (SADC / ECOWAS / EAC etc) and to *start
> paying local taxes *in the chosen host country*. *They should offer
> high quality and regular internships to our computer science students in
> universities.
>
>
> 3. The company reportedly relies on *addiction technology* to boost
> engagement, retention and ad revenues.
>
> To mitigate the consequences, the company should commit to *funding *the
> establishment and operation of at least one *regional mental health
> research center* in each economic block to host researchers from
> African Universities on a rotating and collaborative basis.
>
> Social media firms should also *contribute funds annually* to an *attention
> resource diversion compensation kitty *in each African country - which
> can be used to finance tax subsidies to *compensate local employers*
> (especially SMEs) whose *employees' attention* has been stolen /
> grabbed by *addiction* *algorithms* during work hours without consent
> from the employer.
>
> They also need to fund a *diversion of attention from intellectual
> pursuits compensation kitty* to help fund solutions to the *long term
> macro-economic problems *created when learner's attention are grabbed
> by the use of addiction forming algorithms.
>
> Companies that use addiction technology should also be requested to
> finance the set up and operation of *world-class* *technology
> addiction rehabilitation centers *in each and every African country
> (for both minors and adults). They should also pay a*dditional sin tax*
> - like tobacco and alcohol companies to fund health sector initiatives.
>
> Image does not put food on the table. We need to start insisting that
> foreign companies offer *tangible*, *meaningful *and *genuine win-win *commercial
> and social engagement in Africa (incidentally the world's 8th largest
> economy by GDP).
>
> I leave you with a proverb: *If you want people to buy your cows, do not
> give them milk for free (or for peanuts).. *
>
> Thinking loud. Share widely to stimulate some good debates across the
> continent. :-)
>
> Brgds,
>
> Patrick A. M. Maina
> [Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 7:49:34 PM GMT+3, Ebele Okobi via
> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>
> All-
>
>
> As part of our efforts to expand engagement with the academic community
> and to create more awareness of and engagement related to content policy
> development and enforcement, Facebook has developed the “Content Policy
> Research Initiative” to support external research. The research topic areas
> of focus for these meetings and the call for proposals (found here
> <https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/content-policy-research-on-social-media-platforms-request-for-proposals/>)
> are focused on:
>
> - Defining and moderating hateful content
> - Preventing offline harm from dangerous organizations/groups
>
>
>
> Details on the call for proposals:
>
> · Proposals should be between $50-100K (USD) and executed over 12 months
>
> · Proposals should be 2-3 pages are due by March 15
>
> · It is open to applicants worldwide from academic and/or research
> institutions that are eligible for research funding (this means it means
> many think tanks and some civil society groups may be eligible)
>
> · The call is global and we are striving for a geographic and topical
> diversity
>
> · Emerging Scholars are encouraged to apply
>
>
> We are especially keen to receive proposals from across Africa, so I’m
> eager to help facilitate this. Do let me know if there are any questions.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pmaina2000%40yahoo.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
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kivuva%40transworldafrica.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.
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20190214/6b895c8a/attachment.htm>
More information about the KICTANet
mailing list