IPDB Foundation Announces KICTANet as a Caretaker
BERLIN, March 31, 2017 — IPDB Foundation announced today the latest organization to join as a caretaker, KICTANet.
KICTANet was formed as an initiative by non-governmental actors in Kenya to engage with the government in the development of appropriate ICT public policy.
This commitment ensures the availability of accessible, efficient and affordable ICT services. A platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation, KICTANet aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the sector.
“We need to play a more central role in ensuring the continued democratization of the web and digital rights.”
KICTANet and the IPDB Foundation share the common goal of keeping the internet a free and open place. The organizations were first introduced at the COALA Blockchain Workshops hosted in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2016.
“As the internet becomes more and more balkanized, initiatives like IPDB will help keep it open and global,” said Ali Hussein Kassim, a member of the KICTANet steering team. “We see this as one of the key mandates for KICTANet in Kenya.”
As the first caretaker based in Africa, KICTANet will aid by popularizing the IPDB Foundation’s initiative and increasing participation in Kenya and throughout the continent.
“KICTANet’s experience in Kenya provides IPDB with a unique viewpoint and insights. Their participation in IPDB presents an important first step towards complete jurisdictional diversity,” said Greg McMullen, co-founder and Executive Director of the IPDB Foundation. “We are excited to have them working with us to help ensure that the IPDB Foundation is inclusive, diverse and accessible to all.”
With KICTANet’s extensive experience in pioneering digital rights and acting as a bridge between the government and citizens, the partnership between the two represents an opportunity to set new standards.
“We see the current status quo moving to a more participative type of engagement where non-state players, like IPDB and KICTANet, will have a key role to play,” said Kassim. “We need to play a more central role in ensuring the continued democratization of the web and digital rights.”
About KICTANet
KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder network of members from civil society groups, private sector, development partners and media. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the government mission to enable Kenyans to gain maximum benefit from the opportunity offered by ICTs. For more information, visit https://www.kictanet.or.ke
About IPDB Foundation
IPDB — the Interplanetary Database — is made up of two parts: a blockchain-style database for the world computer and a not-for-profit foundation that guides it. The IPDB foundation provides governance for the database, guiding its growth and allowing it to respond to any challenges it faces. The foundation’s members are the caretakers, and each runs a server node that stores and validates transactions. Together these nodes make up the IPDB database. IPDB offers a public platform for trust, backed by the reputation of the caretakers. For more information, visit https://ipdb.foundation.
Media Contacts
Carly Sheridan
+49 30 6482 6092
carly@bigchaindb.com
Greg McMullen
greg@ipdb.foundation
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