KICTANet and APC Our Voices, Our Future (OVOF) Series
“Beyond the Screen: Tackling Online Surveillance of Women”
Date: 6th December 2023, 1000 – 1100 hours
Platform: Zoom
Introduction
The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), in partnership with the Association for Progressive Communication (APC), is pleased to host a webinar titled “Beyond the Screen: Tackling Online Surveillance of Women,” which will take place on December 6, 2023, via Zoom.
Background
The digital landscape has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, offering opportunities for social and economic connections, expression, and empowerment. However, along with the positive benefits, the upsurge in connectivity has also brought about visibility and the challenge of surveillance. While surveillance in the digital space is a phenomenon that affects all internet users, women are disproportionately affected due to historical, structural, and systematic biases against them that are steeped in patriarchal cultures and beliefs. Surveillance is therefore used as a tool to control women and reinforce existing power imbalances between men and women.
Whether surveillance is perpetrated by individuals, corporations, or government agencies, its impact on women’s safety, privacy, online participation, autonomy, and agency is significant. Women are subjected to various forms of online gender-based violence, including cyberstalking, cyber harassment, and unwarranted data collection as a direct result of online surveillance. This webinar aims to delve into the complexities of online surveillance technologies, the existing legal frameworks, and their combined impact on women in Kenya and other jurisdictions.
Objectives of the Webinar
The objective of this webinar is to:
- Analyze the various forms of surveillance faced by women in the digital space;
- Examine how online surveillance affects women’s participation in social, economic, and political spheres, considering the potential chilling effects on free expression and engagement.
- Assess and identify gaps in policies that need improvement to address online surveillance of women;
- Highlight empowerment and advocacy strategies to combat online surveillance targeting women
Expected Outcomes
- identify trends of digital surveillance among women in Kenya;
- Enhanced awareness about the prevalence and impact of surveillance on women;
- Generate recommendations to strengthen the legal and policy framework surrounding online surveillance and women’s digital rights; and
- Provide practical strategies for women to protect themselves online.
- Identify ethical challenges posed by surveillance laws and technologies and the impact on women; and
- Enhanced understanding and advocacy for policy adjustments and public engagement strategies.
Expected Output
It is expected that this webinar will result in an article and blog post outlining the key issues arising from the discussions and proposing recommendations to various stakeholders moving forward.
Attendees
The participants will include actors drawn from the government, private sector, technical community, academia, media, development partners, civil society, the general public, and other non-governmental actors.
Format of the Webinar
The format of this webinar shall include a presentation, a panel discussion, and a question-and-answer session.
About the Organizers
The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a non-profit organization that acts as a multi-stakeholder platform for ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet’s guiding philosophy encourages synergies for ICT policy-related activities and initiatives. As such, the network provides mechanisms and a framework for continuing cooperation and collaboration in ICT matters among industry, the technical community, academia, the media, development partners, and the government.
Agenda
| Time | Session Title | Session Lead/ Presenters/Moderators |
| 10:00-10:05 am | Panel Introductions | Linda Gichohi-Moderator |
| 10:05-10:15 am | Presentation of research findings | Cherie Oyier |
| 10:15-10: 45 am | Panel Discussion | Linda Gichohi- Moderator
Cherie Oyier – Panelist Grace Bomu – Panelist June Okal – – Panelist |
| 10:45-10:55 am | Q&A session | Cherie, Francis, Linda |
| 10:55-11:00 am | Next steps and closing | Linda Gichohi |
