[Community-Discuss] Internet Shutdown session at AIS 2017

[Kris Seeburn]

Hi Ish,

In this particular situation it is not the technology people who are really concerned directly. That i why i proposed those people as they need to understand the real impact. The conditions whereby having technies only is not going to help; The discussion with AFGWG (African Government Working Group) these mainly come down to Regulators. This subject of shutdown has more direct implication to the ministers themselves. Whe they really understand the impact that they have on there country, they would start seeing the real issue.

When we go back to ITU for example the representatives of the countries at ITU is the minister hie’her advisors and the regulator. As much as we want to see more techies they are not the deciders to shut down the internet. They already know how to execute and shut down.

Thats why i proposed to put these people on board. If they can go to an ITU general assembly they should see the importance of there relative actions. The government approach is important and even more at this point because they are the every ones who take the decisions. in egypt the staff were held at gun point to turn off the internet connectivity. In mauritius we know it was again the minister via the PMO who requested to take down Face Book. Without the press we ma have been at a stall mate.



> On Apr 13, 2017, at 8:18 PM, Ish Sookun <ish at lsl.digital> wrote:
> 
> Hi Kris,
> 
> On 04/13/2017 06:53 PM, Kris Seeburn wrote:
>> May be interesting to have the ICT ministers or information ministers as
>> well. The director generals also act on instructions but both are as
>> important in such maters that we should envisage at our best to get them
>> on board and listen in and participate or at least the senior advisors
>> to the minister of ICT.  Just thought as they are key to anything that
>> happens.
> 
> I see Alan has mentioned that the meeting is happening in Kenya. If that
> were in a local context, i.e Mauritius, I would be a little skeptical to
> have the TCI Minister or "senior advisors" involved.
> 
> Advisors or officers close to ministers are mostly known to be yes-man,
> while the ministers themselves have most of the time little experience
> in the field of technology, communication or yet about innovation. The
> post of advisor is often given as "gift" to political agents who might
> not necessarily have any interest beyond their own political advancement
> (instead of technology advancement).
> 
> It might produce better results to have people who are technology
> influencers and who understand & can also disseminate the information in
> the right way. Digital freedom activists are to be considered as well.
> NGOs involved in the promotion of technology for social impact are good
> candidates.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> -- 
> Ish Sookun
> 
> I drink coffee and manage Linux servers for lexpress.mu.

Kris Seeburn
seeburn.k at gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/kseeburn/ <http://www.linkedin.com/in/kseeburn/>




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