[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 11:55:25 EAT 2019

Patrick,

Indoctrination from attending a one week school...
First, There are many schools in the Internet Governance space, there is
AfriSIG, Diplo have their program, ICANN Next Gen, ISOC youth... I think
you should be a little bit more open minded, dig a little bit more. I
personally don't think they are indoctrination events but from the few
programs I have participated in, I have learnt so much.

Secondly, you have freedom of opinion and expression. But I'd urge you to
be a little open minded. Look at a program from the perspective of what you
can learn from it. From there, you can judge whether it is an
indoctrination exercise or not.

On Fri, 5 Jul 2019, 09:47 Kiarie Wagitungo via kictanet, <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> 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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>>> 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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>>
>> 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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>
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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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