IIC Communications Policy & Regulation Week 2022: Nigerian Communications Commission Wears Gold Sponsorship Cap

…As Danbatta, African Regulatory Chiefs Make The Prestigious List Of Speakers

By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

The policy platform for the digital ecosystem, the International Institute of Communications(IIC), has unveiled an updated agenda for its Communications Policy & Regulation Week 2022 as it continues to add expert speakers in the build-up to the events, Cyber Era NG gathers exclusively.

Details of the agenda sessions released by the IIC Director-General, Lynn Robinson, show that the IIC Communications Policy & Regulation Week 2022 will involve for sessions namely:

• International Regulators’ Forum
• Small Nations Regulators’ Forum
• Workshop: Building data skills for regulators and
• Annual Conference

All four events slated for between  November 1 and November 4, take place in Ottawa, Canada.   The Welcome reception on the evening of November 2,  will be hosted at the Canadian Museum of Nature while the Conference gala dinner on November 3, will be hosted at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, to be sponsored by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA).  The Walt Disney Company wears the cap as Platinum sponsor while telecommunications sector regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, is the proud Gold sponsor of the event.  Frontier Economics wears the cap as Reception Sponsor.

As at press time, many expert speakers have confirmed their participation at the sessions, including but not limited to:

• Vice President, Global Public Policy, Europe, Middle East & Africa, The Walt Disney Company, Thomas Spiller
• Head of Global Innovation and Technology Public Policy, Netflix, Joshua Korn and
• President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada,  Catherine Tait

From the African telecommunications regulatory point of view, confirmed speakers include, but are not limited to: the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(EVC/CEO) at NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta(erroneously listed as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer) Councillor, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Luthando Simphiwe Mkumatela (Adv.) and Director-General, High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA), Morocco, Dr. Benaïssa Asloun.

Over the years, take-aways from ICC’s events have helped shape policy in many countries.  However, three months ago, the UK-based non-profit digital policy institute, faced criticism for its decision to invite a representative of Myanmar’s telecoms regulator to a three-day regional online forum.

The roundtable organised by the International Institute of Communications had the theme: “protecting citizens and consumers” that saw the deputy director-general of Myanmar’s Post and Telecommunications Department, Than Htun Aung in attendance. The media were agog with the story.

According to one report, “As an official of a department under the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Than Htun Aung represents a regime that has been accused of using its control over the country’s telecommunications networks to suppress the rights of citizens.

An activist group that campaigns against the junta, Justice For Myanmar called his inclusion at the Asia Telecommunications & Media Forum 2022 “astounding.”

“Than Htun Aung should be sanctioned for his role in electronic surveillance, censorship and internet shutdowns,” the group’s spokesperson, Yadanar Maung, told Myanmar Now.

Allowing him to attend the event gave him “legitimacy on the international stage” and amounted to “reputation laundering for a terrorist junta,” she added.

Since last year’s coup, Myanmar military has steadily tightened its control over access to the internet to prevent its opponents from exercising their digital rights.

Just days after it seized power last February, the regime attempted to introduce a new cybersecurity law that imposed draconian restrictions over the use of online services and removed privacy protections.

Forced to back down due to pushback from influential business leaders, the junta responded by amending the 2004 Electronic Transactions Law to include many of the same provisions as the proposed new law.

Last month, shortly before the coup anniversary, the regime renewed its push to bring in a cybersecurity law that would give it even greater power to persecute its opponents.

If enacted, the draft law will make it illegal to post anything on social media that threatens “national solidarity” or constitutes a personal attack. It also forbids the use of virtual private network (VPN) technology, digital currencies, and malware.

Over the past year, the regime has charged hundreds if not thousands of people, including both public figures and ordinary citizens, with incitement for online posts expressing support of anti-coup resistance activities.

Since overthrowing the country’s elected civilian government, the coup regime has also killed at least 1,500 civilians and arrested more than 12,000, according to figures compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Justice For Myanmar called on IIC’s strategic partners, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Amazon, and the Walt Disney Company, to withdraw their support for the organisation until it clarifies its stance on the Myanmar regime.”