[kictanet] [who are the sponsors? Managing indoctrination risks...] CALL TO PARTICIPATE AT THE 4TH EDITION OF KENYA SCHOOL OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE (KESIG)

Fri Jul 5 09:45:51 EAT 2019

He he he Muraya. I remember that fiery debate. We had to agree to disagree.
Very wise words. Policy is about balancing different views.
K

On Fri, 5 Jul 2019 at 08:06, S.M. Muraya via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Patrick,
>
> There is fake news and in my own view, "fake" words.
>
> One of these words is "neutrality". No one is neutral. We just come
> together to balance each other out.
>
> KICTANET has archives :)  https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?p=37239
>
> On Wed, Jul 3, 2019 at 7:21 PM Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> Dear listers,
>>
>> When it comes to topics that can influence thought on policy issues, the
>> line between training and indoctrination or brainwash becomes very thin -
>> hence the need for vigilance, close scrutiny, transparency and *neutrality
>> assurance* of (all) policy-related training initiatives.
>>
>> Some of the companies known to sponsor such events worldwide are
>> notorious for aggressive lobbying on policy or governance issues,
>> ostensibly:
>>
>> a. to try avoid impending regulation of their harmful/anti-social
>> business models (or to distort accountability and responsibility
>> narratives);
>>
>> b to try gain unfair advantage over government policy (and/or
>> procurement) by corrupting rules, infiltrating and subverting public sector
>> initiatives, or by peddling influence;
>>
>> c. to institutionalize, launder and/or officially entrench their
>> socially/economically damaging profit models.
>>
>> A number of them have been accused by multiple governments, regulators,
>> civil society, journalists, intellectuals, internet users (via class action
>> lawsuits) and even their own former executives of using either unlawful or
>> dishonest / grossly unethical business practices in ruthless pursuit of
>> profit. Examples of these dubious practices include purposefully developing
>> harmful/addiction-forming radicalizing online products targeted at young
>> people, using deceptive tactics to grow or protect their businesses,
>> infiltrating and subverting public education systems,  subverting economies
>> by capturing workers and learners attention, brazen disregard for people's
>> privacy, unethical exploitation of private info, brazenly breaking laws or
>> aggressively exploiting weak laws, exploiting public ignorance for profit
>> and using predatory commercial strategies that are harmful to the public.
>>
>> The same companies, despite having BILLIONS in revenue, *agressively
>> avoid* contributing their FAIR SHARE of taxes (sometimes to the extent of
>> operating illegally, with impunity, in poor countries) - thus unfairly
>> increasing the burden on governments and taxpayers to fund remediation for
>> the indirect damage that these rogue companies cause e.g. damage to public
>> health, subverting education, political instability, extremism and economic
>> sabotage. These indirect, hidden burdens (negative externalities) can be
>> socio-economically devastating - especially in developing economies, but
>> are seldom recognized, highlighted, mitigated or attributed to the
>> companies that are creating/amplifying them. The same companies then
>> chicanerously manipulate the civil society (e.g. via training &
>> sponsorship) to defend their commercial products as a "human right"!
>>
>> So depending on the sponsor(s), curriculum and governance framework, a
>> training initiative could either be seen as legitimate training or a kind
>> of backdoor indoctrination.
>>
>> This is why it is important to have full transparency and independent
>> vetting of such sensitive initiatives (including sponsors, curriculum,
>> tutors, accreditation etc).
>>
>> Also the use of the word "school" suggests an institution that has
>> undergone formal vetting and accreditation. Yet when I look at the website,
>> it ostensibly reads as if the "school" is an event. Questions:
>>
>> 1. Is it a school or is it an event?
>>
>> 2. Where is the school based?
>>
>> 3. Is it registered with relevant training oversight bodies?
>>
>> 4. Who are the lecturers and what are their credentials?
>>
>> 5. Who developed the coursework & what process was used? This is in view
>> of high risk of content subversion due to powerful business interests
>> having high conflicts of interest on policy and governance issues.
>>
>> 6. Is the school & coursework accredited? By which bodies?
>>
>> 7. Does it issue certificates?
>>
>> 8. How is the school/course funded? Does it have transparency reports?
>> Where can they be found?
>>
>> 9. Who are the sponsors of this event/course?
>>
>> 10. How is conflict of interest avoided (currently and in the past)? Who
>> audits & certifies neutrality?
>>
>> 11. By now such kinds of (potentially subjective) public-interest courses
>> should have been put somewhere online for free and open access. This also
>> allows for independent public scrutiny of the course content. How come this
>> more transparent (and more pro-internet) approach has not yet been taken
>> (despite big sponsors)?
>>
>> This is not to cast aspersions on this specific initiative but to point
>> out, in good faith and in public interest, possible areas of risks or
>> concern, so that they can be addressed or clarified. The issues above
>> generally apply to any initiative(s) purporting to train stakeholders on
>> policy and governance.
>>
>> Perhaps KICTANet officials can shed more light on the above issues please
>> or point us to online resources that have the answers for each question
>> above?
>>
>> Many thanks & have a blessed day.
>>
>> Patrick.
>>
>> Patrick A. M. Maina
>> [Cross-domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous
>> Innovations]
>>
>> On Wednesday, July 3, 2019, 12:24:28 PM GMT+3, mwara gichanga via
>> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Dear Listers
>>
>> The internet has become a vital platform for social, economic and
>> political development in the world, and more increasing so here in Kenya.
>> These bring about a lot of national interests around internet governance
>> debates across all sectors .
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is pleased to welcome
>> applications from those individuals interested in internet Governance for
>> the 4th Edition of the Kenya School of Internet Governance (KeSIG). KeSIG
>> takes place prior to the Kenya IGF, with the aim of introducing beginners
>> to basic concepts in internet policy making. This is with the goal of
>> creating and increasing the available expertise for participation in local
>> and global internet governance processes.
>>
>> Learn more about KeSIG HERE <https://www.kictanet.or.ke/?page_id=40115>
>>
>> Whether you are a policy maker, a researcher, a regulator, an engineer, a
>> journalist, an entrepreneur or a human rights defender – if you are
>> interested and want to get involved in internet policy and governance ,
>> KeSIG is designed perfectly for you!
>>
>> KeSIG will take place over a  3-day course from the 29th-31st July 2019,
>> with the deadline for submissions closing on 13th July 2019, and
>> announcement of selected participants following soon after.
>>
>> Kindly access application form HERE <https://forms.gle/vCncJuuGSnowFUhNA>
>>
>> 4TH EDITION OF KENYA SCHOOL OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE(KESIG)
>>
>> KICTANet welcomes applications for fellows for the 4th Edition of the
>> Kenya School of Internet Governance (KeSIG...
>> <https://forms.gle/vCncJuuGSnowFUhNA>
>>
>>
>> For any further information or clarification , kindly email
>> info at kictanet.or.ke  or  Mwara Gichanga mwaragichanga at kictanet.or.ke
>>
>> Warmly
>>
>> Mwara Gichanga
>>
>> Tech Policy Associate
>>
>> KICTANet
>>
>>
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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.
>>
>
>
> --
> SMM
>
> *"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one
> who takes a city." Prov 16:32*
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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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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