Namibian Name Database

[Neo-RP]

I still haven't noticed any newspaper reporting this. And all the names and birthdays are still online! Something must be done. Did anybody get feedback by Miton Louw?

[pangkas]

I still haven't noticed any newspaper reporting this. And all the names and birthdays are still online! Something must be done. Did anybody get feedback by Miton Louw?

If you would kindly answer the following questions, you would very quickly get some answers.

1. Which newspapers have you informed, if at all? If you have not inform any newspaper, then do not expect anything to happen from any newspaper, because they are definately not waiting for news from this forum.
2. When did you informed the newspapers?
3. Did you take the issue up with anybody, if not ... again ... no one will be able to give you any feedback, Mr or Ms Neo Rightwing Party.

This remind me to the white apartheid masters, before the black sell out government that is in power now, they had this weird thinking most times.

[Neo-RP]

Heya Pangkas,

thanks for your snappy answer.

Just for your information, the media in Namiba does in fact check this forum regularly. And judging from the number of hits this thread has received, I am pretty optimistic that this issue has been noticed in Namibia. Expect the newspapers to take up this issue soon -- the free press is working in Namibia.

Since you seem to take offence at my innocent little nickname, just call me Neo-Baas if that makes you feel better.

Your Punkass Neo-Baas

[pangkas]

why you flip out on me?

the Namibian govt control "free press" give me a brake, and by the way,he is after all baas, its my dog, leave my dear animal out of this.

he is after all, oubaas se honne.

i'll say it again, and listen very carefull, for i'll only say it once. you have the leaders, followers and sadly the draad sitters. met respek gesê, die gat kruipers ... wurms wat in die donker hulle koppe versteek.

unfortunately do we have enough of them here.

but how boring, not to have boot lickers around, they at least keep show us the dimensions of society.

by the way, sorry if i hurt your feelings ... i did not blow up power lines, i were wearing green boots mate.

by the way, were you a swapo combatant or were you a louzy draad sitter?

i must honestly say, swapo was not a walk in park during the armed conflict. i have great respect and admiration for those officers i've meet, wheather swapo, angolan, cuban, russian, east german, anc, azapo or whom ever i've crossed swords with. we could look one another in the eyes, and honest to god ...

no need to explain to you, you'll never understand what it mean to leave the brave behind, the one's that paid the highest price men can ever pay ... with their lifes.

even if this is a can of worms, mine i look in the eyes ... i've always tried to catch them a live. they mean more to me a live and it makes the excitment worth it.

[der-die-das-namibia]

Okay, Pangkas and Neo-Baas, peace now!

And getting back to the topic: I heard through the grapevine that Milton Louw is preparing an explanation for his course of action. So hold your breath.

[miltonlouw]

Hi,

Seems to have made some people get quite heated?

First some history on the my involvement and the data I have collected:
I have been involved in database development in Namibia since before Independence. While working in the NCCI (1993) I started warning people of the data is being stored on dbases, which can be used for good and bad.

During 1999, I had a workshop with various institutions explaining for the need of laws to protect our Informational Privacy. In 2003 I created a business plan for a government agency that should administer such personal information through a personal registry. The funding agencies are willing to provide the finance (they do it in other countries to enable SME financing), but need government support. I have also submitted such a proposal to Parliament in 2006, unfortunately, no-one is listening.

I therefore started this website to see if we have any response and sent the email to over 1,200 people and all the newspapers. Guess what, only five people responded. It seems nobody cares. (For interest, four were requests to remove their personal detail which is done immediately. The other email was a "congratulations".)

As to how to get such detail, all you have to do is become part of the information sharing between credit providers. If you don't know how that works - give me a direct mail.

So - if I don't tell anybody that this information about you is readily available then we can hide our heads under a rock?

I add the laws we require below:

Legislation for informational privacy

The Namibian Constitution states in Article 13 Privacy:
“(1) No persons shall be subject to interference with the privacy of their homes, correspondence or communications save as in accordance with law and as is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the protection of health or morals, for the prevention of disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others.”

The Constitution thus guarantees only “Physical Privacy”. The storage of personal and business information (“Informational Privacy”) must have legislation that will prevent misuse of this information. In addition, the individual in Namibia must be able to access any, and all, information that is stored by the state (public institutions).

There are thus things that are needed to guarantee informational privacy:
1. Data Protection Act;
2. Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations;
3. Freedom of Access to Information Act

Data Protection Act
The Data Protection Act gives you the right to know (access) the information being held on you. It also sets certain key principles that anyone who handles personal information must comply with. The Act also establishes an Information Commissioner.

The data covered is any information which can be used to identify a living person. This includes names, birthdays, addresses and other contact details. It only refers to information stored on computers.

The key principles of the Act must include:
• Data may only be used for the specific purpose that it was collected;
• Data may not be shared with others without permission of the individual whom such information is about – unless there is a legitimate reason;
• It is illegal for other parties to obtain this information without permission;
• Individuals have the right to the information about them subject to certain conditions;
• Personal information should not be kept longer than necessary;
• All businesses that collect personal information must register with the Commissioner; and
• Incorrect information must be corrected when it is brought to the attention of the data storage business.

Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations
These regulations must control the people that wish to send out electronic direct marketing, for example email and text messages (SMS). Individuals have the right to refuse unsolicited marketing messages (“junk mail”) by fax, phone email and text message. Companies and organisations have the right to refuse marketing messages by phone or fax.

A register needs to be created to store the individuals and companies that refuse to receive such marketing messages.

Freedom of Access to Information Act
The Constitutions states in Article 95 Promotion of the Welfare of the People:
“… (e) ensurance that every citizen has a right to fair and reasonable access to public facilities and services in accordance with the law;”

This Act must give the individual the right to obtain information being held by the state (public institutions) unless there are good reasons that such information should be kept confidential. These institutions include government departments, regional and local government as well as schools. (The access to information held by private institutions is expected to be covered by the Data Protection Act.)

Lastly, I thank all of you who participated in airing your concerns.

Kind regards
Milton

[pangkas]

Hi Milton,

Thanks for the swift and essential proffesional responds!

Your accounability has never slip my mind, neither your interactive and motivational learning and teaching experiences.

Nice to have intellectuals like you here who illustrates accountability and accessability in all walks of society.

Your intial setup of a business learning enviroment is absolutely fantastic and most certainly essential for a future business enviroment in Namibia.

We walked the walk, now we talk the talk, as Bill would see it, when measure the effectiveness of learning programs, a live and working in many societies around the globe.

Our society need most definately to change and use these opportunities to our fullest potential towards growth and development for a brighter Namibia.

A Namibia, where the people is the government and the government is the people. The task of the government is amongst others, to serve the Namibian nation and the Namibian nation should pay equally tax to government in all forms.

A future issue perhaps.

Kind regards

[Galaxy]

Mr Louw - while it is noted that you explain your position, the fact remains that you continue to abuse people's privacy. It's as if you are saying that it's OK if people sell bogus insurance policies - or whatever else - because there is no specific law that prohibits anyone from doing it in the first place.

I for one believe there is a strong moral compass that should be followed in the absence of specific laws to regulate our own conduct, and that of our societies, and I think exploiting a legal loophole is not the way to lobby for specific laws. I therefor believe that it is morally wrong to publish what is essentially private data - whatever the legislative environment.

You have made your point. Now demonstrate your moral convictions and remove this essentially private data and protect people's privacy - the very thing you are calling for. Your conscience should stand in the way of possible commerical benefit and the absence of legislation. When the legislation comes, and it will have to sooner or later, you will be able to rightly claim that you have played your part in making it come about.

Again, and as noted by other members, your motives are not entirely clear, even though, and exactly because you have now provided an explanation.

[miltonlouw]

Sorry Galaxy,

Just for clarity. You find it morally wrong to publish private data? My question is it okay that it is being used by all and sundry without your knowledge make it morally right?

I hope you do not mind me saying it but is it an issue of see no evil - aha no evil exist!

As for my motives, I am promoting the establishment of a Central Register of Data for Namibia. Once this is in place with all the necessary legislation, there will be an element of trust (of information) in the econcomy. I will be able to use my business database to encourage the growth of our private sector.

"A Central Register allows us to trust one another in Namibia. With the continuous monitoring and updating of all economic and personal information we will be able to do more business, employ people, give credit, enter in partnership, etc. with one another because we know where to get the latest information on businesses and individuals."

BUT this is meant to be a quick reply so I stop.

Kind regards

[Galaxy]

You are missing my point completely, maybe intentionally. We are in complete agreement that is is morally wrong to publish people's private data without their consent and knowledge. Absolutely. I can see the evil.

As far as you promoting the establishment of a Central Register of Data for Namibia is concerned. Congratulations! There may be a need for it, and I can only encourage you to pursue this goal.

But the fact remains that you publish people's private data without their consent, albeit in a legal vacuum. The fact that there are no rules and regulations does not make it right,does it?

I for one remain sceptical about your motives, unless and until you demonstrate moral conviction. You can't complain about a lack of laws and then go and abuse people's rights to privacy.