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AfRALO, NCC, Medallion collaborate DigitalSENSE Africa 2019 Forum on Internet Governance, IPv6 Roundtable

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The African Regional At-Large Organisations (AfRALO) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), is collaborating with DigitalSENSE Africa Media for the 2019 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable, scheduled for Thursday, June 20, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Lagos.

 

This development is coming alongside the collaboration for NDSF 2019 by the apex telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Medallion Communications, the secured interconnect switching center.

 

According to the organisers led by the Executive Director, DigitalSENSE Africa Media, Mrs Nkem Nweke, the collaboration with AfRALO, NCC and Medallion for this year’s forum with theme: ‘Connecting Nigerians for Enhanced Internet Governance’ will make NDSF series more exciting especially for participants and urged all to ensure they register and participate.

 

She noted that the forum which would now holds on June 20 at the Welcome Centre Hotels, MM International Airport Road, Lagos, was earlier scheduled for June 6, but has to be shifted due to public holidays in Nigeria.

 

Experts from AfRALO, she said, like NCC and Medallion have been lined up to lead discussions at the 10th Nigeria DigitalSENSE Africa forum series on IG4D and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable.

 

She noted that AFRALO is the home of the individual Internet user community for the African region, providing news, key resources and interactive information sharing tools for individuals and end-user groups in the African region who are interested in ICANN and in shaping the future of the Internet.

 

DigitalSENSE Africa, she pointed out, as ICANN At-Large Structure (ALS) is a member of AFRALO, which aims to strengthen users’ participation in ICANN decision-making structures, to ensure that members actively encourage more direct participation by end users, build Internet policy making capacity in the region, reach out to Internet users on the issues in the scope of ICANN, as well as represent users’ interests and defining public interest aspects of Internet governance with specific focus on the areas of privacy, transparency, and accountability.

 

“Thereby strengthen consumer protection in ICANN policies and identify social impacts of technical infrastructure design like the uptake of IPv6 or otherwise,” she declared.

 

NCC, she also said is the apex telecommunications regulator in Nigeria and has been the champion of Internet Governance role player in the public sector and licenses internet service providers and telecommunication service providers among other players in the information and communication technology sector.

 

Further, NCC mandate of 2003 Nigerian Communications Act, she said avails the Commission to properly carry out its regulatory functions and activities including licensing and approving guidelines for keeping of accounts and cost allocation formula of licensees.

 

NCC, she disclosed, would be sending a high-powered delegation to the 2019 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series on Internet Governance for Development and Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable.

 

On the other hand, Mrs. Nweke said that Medallion Communications has proved itself as a leader in infrastructure provisioning through its interconnection and data centre facilitation in the industry, with the vision of bridging the digital divide between the developing and the developed economies of the world.

 

Medallion has operational base in North America and across several African countries, offering Interconnect Houses where operators leverage interconnect with multiple operators in one location, but equally share the available telecom infrastructure thereby reducing overhead.

 

Medallion’s infrastructure, she said, has been designed to be robust and protocol independent to enable all classes of operators to interface seamlessly, for both Time-division multiplexing (TDM)and Internet Protocol (IP)-based telecom operators with any internet exchange points to ensure that local content providers are adequately catered for.

 

She recalled that DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Media, is a certified At-Large Structure (ALS) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and internationally reputed as award-winning Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry analysts and perception managers; professionally affiliated to African Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) for shaping the future of the Internet, African Civil Society for the Information Society (ACSIS).


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Google, Meta Criticize Australia’s Rush to Pass Social Media Ban for Under-16s

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Tech giants Google and Meta have called on the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing most social media platforms.

The companies argue that more time is needed to assess the bill’s impact and await results from an age-verification trial.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the legislation—one of the strictest globally on children’s social media use—by Thursday, the final day of the parliamentary year. Introduced last week, the bill was open for public submissions for just one day, drawing criticism for its expedited timeline.

The proposed law would require social media companies, rather than parents or children, to enforce age-verification measures, potentially using biometrics or government-issued identification. Companies found in breach could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Meta criticised the bill as “inconsistent and ineffective” without clear results from the age-verification trial. Google echoed the sentiment, urging for a measured approach to ensure Australians understand the implications of the legislation.

TikTok raised “significant concerns” over the lack of consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations, and young people. “Novel policies must be drafted thoroughly to ensure their success,” the company stated.

Elon Musk’s X also opposed the bill, arguing it could infringe on children’s human rights, including their freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, accused the government of using the bill as a backdoor to control internet access.

The opposition Liberal Party has signalled support for the bill, while some independent lawmakers have criticised the government for rushing its passage. A Senate committee report on the bill is expected on Tuesday.

If passed, the bill will place Australia at the forefront of regulating children’s online activity, but its swift progression and potential implications have sparked a heated debate over privacy, freedom, and the role of government in digital spaces.


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Unforgettable Moments and Big Wins at the TECNO SPARK 30 City Tour

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TECNO SPARK 30 city tour made a memorable stop at Ikeja City Mall on November 15th, bringing with it an infectious energy that electrified the entire city.

As the event unfolded, it was clear that this was more than just a product showcase – it was an immersive experience designed to thrill and delight.

The day’s festivities kicked off with the iconic TECNO SPARK 30 transformer bus, painted in bold red and blue hues, rolling into action.

The bus served as the hub for a games grotto, where fans immersed themselves in thrilling digital games and adventures.

Outside, the excitement spilled over, with attendees engaging in friendly competitions of Jenga, Monopoly, Ludo, and chess.

These games sparked laughter, playful banter, and a sense of camaraderie among strangers.

As the games heated up, so did the rewards. Purchasers of the TECNO SPARK 30 Pro enjoyed a N20,000 discount and a chance to win up to 100% cashback by participating in the games.

The atmosphere was electric, with cheers of victory, enthusiastic applause, and celebratory high-fives.

The excitement reached a fever pitch with the arrival of tech and lifestyle creator Kagan, accompanied by Big Brother Naija Season 9 stars Victoria and Ruthee.

The trio dove into the action, competing in games and claiming victory. They were awarded TECNO-branded gift items, earning cheers and applause from the thrilled crowd.

The event was an unforgettable experience, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.


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Sophos Report Highlights Cyber Risks During Holiday Shopping Season

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With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, we’re entering a high-risk period for cybersecurity.
A recent Sophos report highlights that malicious emails were the second most common root cause of ransomware attacks in critical sectors, responsible for 25% of cases.

During peak shopping days, this threat intensifies.

Here’s what happens: with the surge in online deals, more employees may be shopping from their work computers, feeling that Cyber Monday is a legitimate time to do so.

This increases the risk of them clicking more freely and potentially exposing the organization to malicious links or phishing attacks.

To keep your organization safe, encourage your team to follow these simple tips:

• Use an ad blocker – Advertisements are not only tracking your every movement and collecting enough information on your habits to make the FBI blush, but they are also a major source of malicious links and deceptive content on the internet. Not only is your browsing safer, but also faster and uses less bandwidth. Two of our favorites are uBlock Origin and Ghostery.
• Use private browsing or incognito mode – To prevent your shopping habits and interests from following you around from site to site (and potentially revealing what gifts you might be purchasing to others using your device, bonus!), you should enable private browsing (Firefox) or incognito mode (Chrome). This will block tracking cookies and help the internet forget your travels as the waves wash away your footprints in the sand.
• Make your browser “privacy smart” – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) provides a browser extension called Privacy Badger designed to automatically make all the right choices around browsing whilst maintaining our privacy and blocking invisible trackers.
• Avoid using one account on multiple services – When logging into an e-commerce site it is often tempting to use the “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Google” button. While it takes a few more minutes to create a new login, it will provide more privacy as you are not sharing all of the sites you shop at with these tech giants.
• Use guest login when available – In addition to letting you use an account from other websites, many have an option to use a guest login rather than creating a new account. This is a great option if you don’t expect to need technical support or to do business on a recurring basis. Fewer passwords, fewer personal details, fewer problems if they get hacked.
• Don’t save card details – Many e-commerce sites will default to storing your credit card information in your profile for your “convenience” (or their hope you’ll shop there again). They can’t lose what they don’t have, so tell them not to store your credit card unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Use temporary card numbers – Many financial institutions now offer temporary or one-time use credit card numbers. You can open the app on your phone or in your browser and get a single-use disposable credit card number preventing card fraud and tracking when merchants share card processors. Sometimes you’re even able to specify a card limit per temporary number to further protect your account.
• Use credit, not debit – All of us need to be wary of overspending during the holidays, but it is best to leave the debit card at home. Credit cards offer significantly more protection against online fraud, and you are in the power position in a dispute. You can simply not pay your bill while disputing the charge, rather than having criminals directly drain your bank account of your hard-earned cash.
• Beware of direct messages via social media/chat apps – With modern generative AI technology it is almost trivial to create an entire fake online store and lure people to share their personal information and payment data with you. It’s safest to shop at established sites or those personally recommended to you by friends and family. Many unsolicited messages lead to data collection or theft.

• Don’t click deals in email that look too good to be true or are from businesses you don’t have accounts from – these could be phishing emails hoping to bait you into clicking links to bogus, malicious web sites.

This season, small steps can make a big difference in protecting against cyber threats.


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