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Kenya: Press Release: Kenya ICT Federation Call for Amendments to ICT Bill |
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Thursday, 15 January 2009 |
The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act 2008 supports electronic commerce in Kenya and between Kenya and its trading partners. E-Commerce will spur economic growth and we are now among the first countries in the region to have supporting laws in place. The Kenya ICT Federation (KIF) is grateful to all Government bodies for having promoted this progress.
KIF, alongside with other privates sector organisations including KEPSA, believes that there is still an opportunity to improve information and communications legislation further. This not only regards media issues, but also ICT issues that must be addressed to ensure Kenyan e-commerce legislation is in line with global standards.
We therefore suggest changes as follows: • Protection of personal information is essential to win international confidence in Kenyan e-commerce business. Recommendation: Amend the Act by introducing personal information protection provisions in the Clauses on electronic transactions. • Immunity of internet and telecommunication service providers from civil and criminal liability arising from the use of their services by their customers and for information content that infringes copyrights is defamatory or vulgar. Only upon notification by a relevant authority should a service provider take action. • Ministerial discretion at the exclusion of certain documents: ministerial discretion in applying the law to documents such as wills or titles, may unnecessarily weaken the Act and such technical decisions can be taken at the level of the industry regulator. Recommendation: Amend Act by deleting Section 83 B. • Articulate objectives of application of law on e-government services as having positive impact on democracy, good governance and better business environment. Recommendation: Amend section 83C of the Act or include a subsection. • Cyber crime - The Act is weak on fraud which constitutes an inadequate deterrent to cyber crime. It is important to stipulate stiffer punishment on a graduating scale. Recommendation: Amend all the sections providing for penalties in part VIA – Electronic Transactions. An obligation rests on all stakeholders to ensure that Kenya adopts legislation that follows global best practice, in information technology as well as mass media.
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