It is a remarkably simple initiative, but Kenya has decided that by making prior-registration a legal requirement before accessing public wifi, it will become more difficult for criminals to hijack systems and identities. The law was passed in response to the recent hacking of Kenya’s National Broadband Network (NBN), which saw hackers steal personal details from millions of users. The flip side of this is that Kenya's Human Rights rating has been suffering recently, and many will see the move as President Kenyatta smothering his opposition. Kenyan companies will also be "required" to host their sites from within Kenya.
It is a remarkably simple initiative, but Kenya has decided that by making prior-registration a legal requirement before accessing public wifi, it will become more difficult for criminals to hijack systems and identities. Essentially the users MAC-code becomes an authentication passport and will be tied to their national ID number. The flip side of this is that Kenya's Human Rights rating has been suffering recently, and many will see the move as President Kenyatta smothering his opposition. Kenyan companies will also be "required" to host their sites from within Kenya.