WHATSAPP IRELAND APPEALS RECORD FINE IN EUROPEAN COURT

 

WhatsApp Ireland has filed appeals against the decision to sanction it a record Euros 225million fine by the Data Protection Commissioner last month for violations of users' privacy. The European arm of the messaging service filed both a judicial review application before the Irish High Court seeking to set aside the DPC's decision for want of legality, as well as a statutory appeal against the decision itself.

The DPC announced the fine on 20th August, 2021, after finding WhatsApp violated the European GDPR in the processing of both its users, as well as non-users data, and for sharing users' data with Facebook.
In the Judicial Review filing, WhatsApp seeks to quash the DPC decision for unconstitutionality citing the European Convention on Human Rights. It also claims it was denied fair procedure and equated the fine to a criminal sanction. The application will be heard inter-parties next month. WhatsApp has also appealed the decision on its merits in the Superior Court.

ILLEGAL PHONE TAPPING IMPERILS FRENCH INSIDER TRADING CASE

 

The French government's biggest insider trading case against two individuals teeters on the brink of collapse on claims of data privacy breach by the charged suspects. They accuse authorities of illegally accessing their private communications, authority which they say, should only be availed when national security is threatened. The Court of Justice of the European Union in a 15-judge bench is hearing submissions on whether the evidence relied upon by the French authorities in bringing the case against traders Alexis Kuperfis, and Lucien Selce, should be set aside as inadmissible as the same was illegally obtained. The authorities tapped burner phones used in the alleged market info tip-offs. "The court clarified last year that EU rules ban wide-scale measures forcing internet and phone operators to carry out 'the general and indiscriminate transmission or retention of traffic data and location data.' Such data should only be accessed in case of a “serious threat” to national security, it said

CHINA DATA PROTECTION LAW TO HOLD BIG TECH TO HIGHER STANDARDS THAN SMALL ENTERPRISES

 

China strongly signaled this week that its proposed data privacy law, the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPL) is likely to become law after August 20th when it is considered during the 30th sitting of its 2000-strong parliament which convenes between Aug 17-20. The 98th sitting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress chaired by Li Zhanshu, the Communist Party's No. 3, approved for consideration over a dozen draft laws among them the PIPL.

While it largely conforms to other data privacy legislations around the world, its articles on the handling of personal information by State organs, and the cross-border transfer of information are noteworthy. Specifically, China proposes to blacklist any third-party organization that breaches its citizens private information and to order that it no longer receive any personal data of individuals domiciled within China. It also proposes retaliatory reciprocity against countries that "discriminate" against China in the area of data protection.

Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft)
Table of Contents

Chapter I: General Provisions
Chapter II: Personal Information Handling Rules 
Section I: Common Provisions
Section II: Rules for Handling Sensitive Personal Information
Section III: Specific Provisions on State Organs Handling Personal Information
Chapter III: Rules on the Cross-Border Provision of Personal Information
Chapter IV: Individuals’ Rights in Personal Information Handling Activities
Chapter V: Personal Information Handlers’ Duties
Chapter VI: Departments Fulfilling Personal Information Protection Duties and Responsibilities
Chapter VII: Legal Liability
Chapter VIII: Supplemental Provisions

DStv Unveils Targerted Packages for Pubs, Hotels and Offices

 

DStv has repackaged its offerings for its commercial segment customers to better meet the needs of their varied customers and clients.

"The packages are designed to connect commercial customers within different industry sectors like hotels, pubs and clubs, offices, guest houses and serviced apartments," Multichoice Kenya Managing Director, Nancy Matimu said during the revamp ceremony in Nairobi yesterday.

The packages target Hotels for staying customers which will be called DStv Stay, Pubs and Clubs (DStv Play), and Offices (DStv Work).

For example, DStv Work will beam into offices the latest news and headlines from across the world and will be in two offerings, DSTv Work Essential and Work Ultra.

DStv Play will provide various live sports and sports content for pubs and clubs patrons and will come in Basic, Essential and Ultra offerings.

For in-room entertainment, the DStv Stay package will also come in Basic, Essential and Ultra.

Multichoice has been repositioning itself to keep up with changing consumer trends and technology launching offerings across devices and technology platforms.

Safaricom officially receives Ethiopia Mobile License

 Safaricom and its consortium partners received their official license to roll out in the 100million people strong market and will be expected to begin setting up in the next few months.

Liquid Telecom loses Bid for Kenya Under-Sea Cable License

Tier-1 telco, Liquid (formerly KDN), has lost a bid to acquire a submarine cable landing license after the Communications Tribunal threw out its appeal against an earlier decision by the Communications Authority to deny it the license.

Liquid, part of a pan-African group, had applied for the SLCC license to terminate a cable originating from Pakistan and co-owned by a subsidiary of Chinese Huawei group.

The Communications and Media Appeals Tribunal, in denying its appeal, found that Liquid filed the appeal months later than the law required and that the same seemed to be an afterthought.

The Tribunal chair Rosemary Wacera Kuria, found that Liquid did not provide sufficient reasons for not filing the appeal on time and that it had initiated other license applications before it decided to file the appeal.

Kenya has three SCLL holders: Seacom, TEAMS and EASSY. Mr. Stephen Kiptinness, representing Liquid, was unable to convince the tribunal that the company would suffer any commercial loss nor that the matter would result in injustice.

Faith Wamuyu, counsel for the Authority, had argued that Liquid, by delaying to file its appeal, was misusing the court process.

Multichoice Talent Factory Recruiting Trainees Filmmakers

Multichoice has announced that it is recruiting film and TV trainees from east, west and southern Africa, for its Multichoice Talent Factory training programme.

The Film and TV training programme which was launched in 2018, has so far trained 120 students transforming them into skilled industry professionals.

The applications for the 2022 class will close on 30th June, 2021.

"The call is open to all emerging filmmakers with either some industry experience or a relevant post-school qualification in film to apply for this exciting opportunity to hone their television and film production skills," Multichoice said in a statement.

MTF has four academies in Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa. 

Like previous years, all 60 students alongside select members of the public will get to participate in the MTF Masterclasses, which are powered by various industry partners including Dolby, CBS Justice and Jasco Broadcast Solutions offering AVID software masterclasses to name a few.

 

The illustrious New York Film Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (NYFA) continues its commitment as an MTF Masterclasses partner and to award its annual 8 weeks NYFA Scholarship at the Academy in New York to the top performing student from each region.