Kenya IGF Online Discussions Day 1: Content Regulation on the Internet

Dear John Paul,

Thank you so much for highlighting the issues of consumer development and
the production of counter content. These two are creative (rather than
defensive) ways of dealing with controversial content. And they encourage
dialogue plus encourage new players to enter the industry. For example, a
whole new subsection focusing on consumer development can be created;
groups of filmmakers can brand themselves as counter content creators.

Regards,
Mildred Achoch.

On Thursday, July 12, 2018, John Paul Karijo via kictanet <
[email protected]> wrote:

> I think the internet and all the various platforms that have been built on
> top of it have done so much for freedom.
> The fact that anyone can now become a content producer and that anyone can
> have an audience.
>
> The internet has helped push the boundaries of creativity… challenge
> morality… challenge cultures…
>
> My greatest fear wouldn\’t be to regulate consumption – that has always
> failed… (when we were kids pre-internet days there was always ways to
> beat regulation with porn flicks and magazines. They were so pervasive that
> they found their way into even mission schools) – okay moving away from
> this sex and morality obsession.
>
> My fear would be the pervasiveness of content that no longer challenges
> the thought process… content that does not encourage research or reading
> or the seeking of answers. The pervasiveness of content that holds
> simplistic views of the world.
> In answer to my own fears I would not urge that such content is removed,
> censored or charged fees for being on the internet – no my answer would be
> to produce thought provoking content and compete with \”shallow\” content. –
> Counter Content
> In answer to my own fears I would promote the whole development of the
> person in school – think curriculum reforms… I would want to create young
> people who can think… young people who have learnt how to learn…. how
> to see truth and facts. – \”Consumer Development\”
>
> So I would encourage proponents of censorship to instead become sponsors
> of counter content. If you have strict moral beliefs… create content that
> encourage the practice of such a code of morality… share this content and
> make it pervasive… if there is fake news – counter it with investigative
> and in depth truth.
> The truth has to find ways to move as fast as the fake… The internet is
> the platform where this has to happen – \”Counter Pervasiveness\”
>
> Of course there is the thing with economics – we have to make it pay to
> produce truth… we have to make depth rank better than mediocrity.
> If decadence sells it is because our society and our economy is built on
> decadence.
>
> (a) What does \’*content regulation**’* mean?
> I would define this as any control that is imposed on content that does
> not come from the producer or the consumer of the content that would
> prevent production or consumption of such content.
> Forms include platform control, parental control, government control
> methods could include | fees e.g. reading research material on JSTOR, taxes
> and social media access fees | outright viewing bans such as what is done
> by KFCB in Kenya | The ability of platforms to take down reported content –
> compare Facebook and Reddit… Reddit is close to anarchy but really that
> is what the internet was made for…
>
> (b) How is content regulation achieved?
> I think regulation isn\’t achieved only by banning… making costs of
> production prohibitive or punitive is regulation enough. Case in point what
> Uganda and Tanzania are doing in terms of social media access fees or
> blogging tax.
>
> The internet was designed for freedom and openness – any financial charge
> to access or create content is a way of regulation and in some cases
> suppression.
>
>
> (c) What categories of content face the most regulation?
> I feel that Video and Film face the most regulation… it is so difficult
> to be a producer of these in Kenya… aside from the possibility of bans
> even the access to support to screen…to shoot…. to fund a production is
> an uphill task.
>
> So instead of regulating films like Wanuri Kahiu\’s Rafiki – I would have
> it screened in class and ask students to discuss. (Remember Consumer
> Development)
>
> Also it is counterproductive to ban screening of Kenyan producers films
> i.e. regulate content produced within our country while if I walk to Moi
> Avenue right now I can buy several seasons of the American production L –
> Word and I can get several seasons of BBCs Lip Service..
>
> If I am looking for deeper stories instead of just mainstream lesbian
> stories I can access content from film Producers in Canada such as Patricia
> Rozema. I think Wanuri\’s short film would rank even higher on depth than
> the examples I have mentioned.
>
> So anyway based on my earlier proposal on using \”Counter Content\” and
> \”Counter Pervasiveness\” and \”Consumer Development\” we are doing ourselves
> dis-favor by banning our own locally produced works… banning our own
> stories… while being inundated by content that doesn\’t tell our truth…
> our reality.
>
>
>
>
> With kind regards
>
>
> Jeipea
>
> Believe in yourself then you can change your world
>
> ____________________________________________
> Skype: john.paul.em
> Cell: +254735586956
>
>
> On Thu, Jul 12, 2018 at 12:11 AM esther kamande via kictanet <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Hi Listers,
>>
>>
>>
>> (b) How is content regulation achieved?
>>
>>
>>
>> Through intermediary liability laws. These laws generally require
>> platforms to remove content in at least some circumstances, with
>> obligations usually triggered when the platform learns about illegal
>> material. Platforms operate notice and take-down programs as a way both to
>> comply with such laws and to enforce their own discretionary content
>> policies.
>>
>>
>>
>> (c) What categories of content face the most regulation?
>>
>>
>> Internet platforms largely as a result of the mounting public demands for
>> aggressive intervention.
>>
>> Calls for companies like YouTube and Facebook to fight problems ranging
>> from “fake news” to hate speech to online radicalization seem to make daily
>> headlines even gathering support from the top leadership not just locally
>> but globally i.e British prime minister Theresa May, “Industry needs to
>> go further and faster” in removing prohibited content by developing
>> automated filters to detect and suppress it automatically.”
>>
>>
>> We sometimes decry the intrusion of platform moderation, and sometimes
>> decry its absence.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Esther Kamande
>>
>> Advocate | Policy Analyst
>>
>> Twitter: @enkamande
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 9:26 AM kanini mutemi via kictanet <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello Listers,
>>>
>>> I’ll start us off with the discussion on Content Regulation on the
>>> internet. I find it useful for us to first understand what content
>>> regulation means. To this end, I invite your contributions to the following
>>> questions–
>>>
>>> (a) What does \’*content regulation**’* mean?
>>>
>>> (b) How is content regulation achieved?
>>>
>>> (c) What categories of content face the most regulation?
>>>
>>> Let’s go!
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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.
>>
>