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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">My thoughts on this were captured here...</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span><a href="https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-5295266-12t0o7f/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_2770489314">WALUBENGO: Bill yet another attempt to censor social media</a></span><div><br></div><div id="ydp2793c877enhancr_card_2770489314" class="ydp2793c877yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp2793c877ymail-preserve-class ydp2793c877ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-5295266-12t0o7f/index.html" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/2274560-5295266-12t0o7f/index.html" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp2793c877yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp2793c877card-wrapper ydp2793c877yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp2793c877card ydp2793c877yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp2793c877card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/O0NJmA5pNPf6dUC_rnWGsA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/1951896/medRes/558592/-/15qpmjn/-/walubengo.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/O0NJmA5pNPf6dUC_rnWGsA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/1951896/medRes/558592/-/15qpmjn/-/walubengo.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp2793c877card-overlay-container-table ydp2793c877yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp2793c877card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp2793c877yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp2793c877card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp2793c877card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp2793c877card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp2793c877card-info ydp2793c877yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp2793c877card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">WALUBENGO: Bill yet another attempt to censor social media</h2><p class="ydp2793c877card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 155, 167);">This is the classic definition of sending a chilling effect on online freedoms through draconian social media laws.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>I hope the bill gets to be DOA...Dead on Arrival.</div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">walu</div>
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On Thursday, October 24, 2019, 11:42:11 AM GMT+3, kanini mutemi via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
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<div><div id="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878"><div><div><div>Thank you for the views- please keep them coming. </div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Let’s also look at this from a Freedom of Expression point of view because at the root of it ‘bloggers’ (and anyone who shares anything online) are expressing themselves. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><b><i>Is it constitutionally sound to require registration before expression? Think of it as a ‘license to speak’. Is this justifiable in our constitutional framework?</i></b></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878yqt3505066254" id="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878yqt64442"><div><br clear="none"><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote"><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Thu, 24 Oct 2019 at 11:20, Wamathai (HapaKenya) <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:w@hapakenya.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">w@hapakenya.com</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></div><blockquote class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div dir="ltr"><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">Good morning,</div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">I have many thoughts on this but to be honest it is such a bad idea.</div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">I see this bill as the continuation of attempts to muzzle free speech and freedom of the media online that was initially started by the state. In the past, there was a reliance on existing vague laws but some of them have been declared unconstitutional hence the change of tact. </div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">In the past, this kind of intimidation has primarily targeted influencers and bloggers but also ordinary online users have been targeted. To be targeted, all they do is just brand you a blogger, a loose term used by politicians & the media to refer to online users (and not just organized online content creators). In 2015, Nancy Mbindillah was arrested in Embu for 'insulting' the Governor. <a shape="rect" href="https://www.ifree.co.ke/2015/01/24-year-old-nancy-mbindalah-held-in-custody-then-pardoned-for-undermining-the-embu-governor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">She was basically arrested for expressing her opinion on various operations in the County</a>. I fear that this law will be used to target anyone who shares uncomfortable opinions or facts under the banner of 'undesirable content'.</div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">The attempts to license organized online content creators (we can call them bloggers and influencers) is a regional trend with Tanzania charging $930 and Uganda having proposed regulations on the same. The basic idea, like in Kenya with this new bill, is to create an environment where free speech is punished and those who haven't registered under the regulations are also punished. </div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;">The long term effects of this law is disastrous to free discourse and if you bring in the online media element, freedom of the media as well. In my opinion, as an online content creator and an official of the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), this law should not be allowed as it goes against fundamental freedoms and rights as guaranteed by the constitution. </div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_default" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;"><br clear="none"></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size:12.8px;"><br clear="none"></font></div><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size:12.8px;"><br clear="none"></font></div><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size:12.8px;">-----</font><div><div style="font-size:12.8px;"><p style="font-size:10px;"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><img src="http://www.hapakenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/HK350long.png" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" style="width: 200px; max-width: 351px;"><br clear="none"></font></p><p style="line-height:11px;"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><font size="2" face="verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">James Wamathai</span> | CEO, <a shape="rect" href="http://hapakenya.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hapakenya.com</a><br clear="none"></font></span></p><p style="line-height:11px;"><font size="2" face="verdana, sans-serif"><font color="#000000">m: </font><font color="#0000ff">0777-555101</font><font color="#000000"> e: </font><a shape="rect" href="mailto:w@hapakenya.com" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">w@hapakenya.com</a><font color="#000000"> | Twitter: </font><a shape="rect" href="http://twitter.com/wamathai" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@Wamathai</a></font></p><p style="line-height:11px;color:rgb(153,153,153);"><font size="2" face="verdana, sans-serif"><br clear="none"></font></p><p style="line-height:11px;color:rgb(153,153,153);"><font size="2" face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);">Follow Hapa Kenya: </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);"><i>Twitter</i>: <a shape="rect" href="http://twitter.com/hapaKenya" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@HapaKenya</a>, <i>FB</i>: <a shape="rect" href="http://fb.com/HapaKenya" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fb.com/HapaKenya</a></span></font></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br clear="none"></div><br clear="none"><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote"></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote"><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Wed, 23 Oct 2019 at 12:15, kanini mutemi via kictanet <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></div></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote"><blockquote class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex;"></blockquote></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote"><blockquote class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex;"><div>Good morning Listers, </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>As GG had alerted us last week, there is a bill before the National Assembly that seeks to amend the Kenya Information and Communication Act by including a part on Regulation of Social Media. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>I will lead us on a discussion on this Bill. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Between 2016 to date, we have seen many attempts to regulate social media conduct. Interestingly, one such attempt, the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, where many of its sections on regulation of social media, have been suspended is coming up for hearing today. Now we tackle yet another attempt to ‘fix’ social media. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>To start with, I will post the definitions proposed in the bill of the word ‘social media platform’ and ‘blogging’:</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><div><div>"<b><i>blogging" means collecting, writing, editing and presenting of news or news articles in social media platforms or in the internet;</i></b></div><div><b><i><br clear="none"></i></b></div><div><b><i>"social media platforms" includes online publishing and discussion, media sharing, blogging, social networking, document and data sharing repositories, social media applications, social bookmarking and widgets;</i></b></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>What are your initial thoughts? What ‘problem’ is Hon. Injendi trying to fix with this bill? Who will fall under those definitions? Contributions are welcome. </div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div></div>-- <br clear="none"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><span style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><b>Mercy Mutemi, Advocate</b>. <br clear="none"></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><br clear="none"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><b><i><br clear="none"></i></b></span></div><br clear="none"></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote"><blockquote class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex;">
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</blockquote></div></div></div>-- <br clear="none"><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yiv0688363878gmail_signature" dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><span style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><b>Mercy Mutemi, Advocate</b>. <br clear="none"></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><br clear="none"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia, serif;"><b><i><br clear="none"></i></b></span></div><br clear="none"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp9fda0ad5yqt3505066254" id="ydp9fda0ad5yqt86229">_______________________________________________<br clear="none">kictanet mailing list<br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br clear="none"><a shape="rect" href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet</a><br clear="none">Twitter: <a shape="rect" href="http://twitter.com/kictanet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/kictanet</a><br clear="none">Facebook: <a shape="rect" href="https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/</a><br clear="none"><br clear="none">Unsubscribe or change your options at <a shape="rect" href="https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com</a><br clear="none"><br clear="none">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.<br clear="none"><br clear="none">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.<br clear="none"></div></div>
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