Bid to regulate Internet waste of time, Ndemo says on Netflix

  • 5 years ago
Did you know that in 1982 there was a circular issued during President Moi’s regime to ban fax machines and computers? Reason being, it would render secretaries jobless.

I can’t help but smile when former ICT Permanent Secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo tells me this during an interview, because I had no idea.
“And I think that circular is still valid,” he adds.

Considering his vast experience in the ICT sector, I decide to get Dr Ndemo’s opinion on the new kid on the block – Netflix; a US based company which provides online media streaming at a fee.

The recent entry of Netflix in Kenya, has elicited debate on how to regulate its content, with the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) insisting that the content must be rated afresh.

Others like the Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi feel that this is something new online and regulation may not be possible unless otherwise.