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Video Telematics Market: Driving Fleet Safety and Efficiency
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Introduction to Video Telematics Market
The Video Telematics Market is growing rapidly as fleet operators adopt advanced technologies to enhance safety, efficiency, and performance. Integrating video with telematics enables real-time monitoring, providing valuable insights into driver behavior, vehicle conditions, and road safety. With applications across various sectors—logistics, insurance, public transport—video telematics offers companies a way to optimize fleet management while reducing operational risks and costs. The global market is driven by demand for enhanced security, increasing regulation, and technological advancements in AI and cloud computing.
The Video Telematics Market is Valued USD billion in 2021 and projected to reach USD billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of During the Forecast period of 2024-2032. This market has applications across industries like transportation, logistics, and insurance, helping companies reduce costs, improve driver safety, and comply with regulatory standards. The integration of AI, cloud, and IoT technologies has significantly enhanced the capability of video telematics, leading to widespread adoption.
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Major Classifications are as follows:
By Type:
Integrated Systems
Standalone Systems
By Application:
Buses
Heavy Trucks
Other Applications
Key Region/Countries are Classified as Follows:
◘ North America (United States, Canada,) ◘ Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina,) ◘ Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia) ◘ Europe (UK,Germany,France,Italy,Spain,Russia,) ◘ The Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South
Key Players of Video Telematics Market
SmartWitness (Sensata Technologies), MiX Telematics, Verizon Connect (Verizon Communications Inc.), Omnitracs (Solera Holdings, Inc.), FleetCam, VisionTrack, Lytx, Inc.,Nauto, Inc., SureCam, LightMetrics, Inc., Netradyne, Geotab Inc., AT&T Inc..
Market Drivers in Video Telematics Market
Increased Demand for Fleet Safety: Companies are increasingly focused on reducing accidents and improving safety, which video telematics facilitates through real-time monitoring.
Regulatory Compliance: Governments worldwide are mandating stricter vehicle safety standards, pushing for more advanced telematics solutions.
Technological Advancements: The integration of AI, machine learning, and IoT with telematics is fueling growth, enabling predictive analytics and smart reporting.
Market Challenges in Video Telematics Market
Data Privacy Concerns: The use of real-time monitoring may raise privacy issues among drivers, leading to resistance in adoption.
High Implementation Costs: The initial costs of setting up video telematics infrastructure can be a barrier for smaller companies.
Integration Complexities: Integrating video telematics systems with existing IT and fleet management platforms can pose technical challenges.
Market Opportunities of Video Telematics Market
Expansion in Emerging Markets: Increasing demand for fleet management solutions in emerging economies presents a significant growth opportunity.
AI-Powered Innovations: The integration of AI and predictive analytics can revolutionize fleet safety and efficiency, offering new business models.
Partnerships with Insurance Companies: Video telematics offers insurers a way to monitor driver behavior, reducing risk and allowing for dynamic pricing models.
Conclusion
The Video Telematics Market is positioned for substantial growth due to its critical role in enhancing fleet management and road safety. While challenges like high initial costs and privacy concerns exist, the market is driven by strong demand for real-time monitoring, regulatory compliance, and cost-saving solutions. As technological advancements such as AI, IoT, and cloud computing continue to evolve, they will open new avenues for innovation and growth, making video telematics a transformative force in fleet management.
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Vehicle Cameras Market Challenges, Analysis and Forecast to 2023-2032
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Vehicle cameras, also known as car cameras or dash cams, are compact video recording devices designed for installation in vehicles. These cameras capture video footage of the road ahead or the surroundings of the vehicle, providing various benefits and functionalities.
The vehicle cameras market refers to the industry that deals with the production, sales, and use of cameras specifically designed for installation in vehicles. These cameras are used for various purposes, such as enhancing driver safety, improving the overall driving experience, providing evidence in case of accidents or theft, and assisting in parking and maneuvering.
Technology Advancements:
Resolution: Vehicle cameras have evolved from standard definition to high-definition (HD) and even 4K resolution, providing clearer and more detailed video footage.
Night Vision: Many cameras now come with enhanced low-light or infrared capabilities, enabling them to capture clear footage during nighttime or low-light conditions.
GPS and Speed Tracking: Some advanced vehicle cameras feature built-in GPS and speed tracking, overlaying location and speed data onto the recorded video.
Connectivity: Many modern vehicle cameras offer Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to transfer or access video files wirelessly and remotely control the camera settings.
Intelligent Features: Some cameras incorporate advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and traffic sign recognition.
Legal Considerations: The use of vehicle cameras is subject to regulations that vary by jurisdiction. It's important to familiarize yourself with the laws in your region regarding privacy, recording consent, and windshield obstruction.
Vehicle cameras have gained popularity due to their practicality, safety benefits, and potential cost savings. They offer drivers an added sense of security, help improve driving behavior, and provide valuable evidence in case of incidents or accidents on the road.
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Remember to look for recent reports to ensure you have the most current and relevant information.
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Market Segmentations:
Global Vehicle Cameras Market: By Company • Bosch • Delphi Automotive • Continental • Valeo • Autoliv • Omnivision Technologies • Magna International • Mobileye • Stonkam Global Vehicle Cameras Market: By Type • Infrared Cameras • Digital Cameras • Thermal Cameras • Others Global Vehicle Cameras Market: By Application • Passenger Vehicles • Commercial Vehicles Global Vehicle Cameras Market: Regional Analysis All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Vehicle Cameras market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.
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#Vehicle Cameras Market Challenges#Analysis and Forecast to 2023-2032#global market insights#global research market report#global market report
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APAC to be the Leading Region in Automotive Smart Display Market 2021 | Key Findings, COVID – 19 Impact Analysis, Business Trends, Industry Segments, Regional Study, Emerging Technologies and Future Prospects 2023
Market Overview
The global automotive smart display market can touch a rough valuation of USD 10 billion by 2025, believes Market Research Future (MRFR). MRFR expects the market to record a CAGR of 13% during the forecast period (2019-2025).
Top Drivers and Key Barriers
At present, providing comfort, enhancing driver experience, and improving safety are the latest priorities for the global automotive sector. Smart display manufacturers, in a bid to gain an expansive customer base, are now offering cutting-edge smart display applications. With rising integration of vehicle functions in display applications, manufacturers offer LCD and TFT-LCD display panels that come with unique designs.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are also developing smart automotive display systems, keeping in mind the cost-sensitive nature of the market. In addition to a single-touch screen platform, manufacturers are now integrating gesture control technology within the smart display system. The primary focus is on providing customers with 360°video imaging technology and audible navigational assistance system that shows a 3D view of vehicle surrounding, which enhances safety.
Soaring demand for advanced features in vehicles works in favor of the automotive smart display system. Burgeoning population, mounting demand for autonomous vehicles, changing lifestyle, and rising popularity of -cart infotainment systems present the global market with numerous growth opportunities.
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Market Segmentation
The global automotive smart display market segments that have been analyzed in the MRFR report are display technology, driving level, display size, vehicle type, and sales channel.
Depending on the product type, the automotive smart display market includes thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), liquid crystal display (LCD), and others. The LCD segment can exhibit remarkable growth in the coming years, on account of rising demand for in-vehicle center stack displays.
With respect to the driving level, the automotive smart display market is considered for conventional and semi-autonomous. Escalating demand for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles all over the world will benefit the semi-autonomous segment over the appraisal period.
The display size-wise segments in the global automotive smart display market are up to 5”, 5”-10”, and above10”. The 5”-10” segment could rise at a fast pace in the following years, thanks to the soaring demand for larger display applications in vehicles.
In terms of the vehicle type, the global automotive smart display market comprises passenger car and commercial vehicle. The passenger car segment is poised to attain a higher share of the global market, with the main reason being the rising deployment of augmented reality displays on the car windscreens.
Propulsion-based segments are Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electric vehicle. The ICE segment’s share in the market is projected to be the largest in the ensuing years. Elevated demand for engine monitoring, as well as display of engine information system, is believed to be the prime reason for the segmental dominance in the market.
The various sales channels in the automotive smart display market are original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket. The aftermarket segment is displaying better growth than its counterpart, because of the rise in aftermarket service centers, especially in developing economies like India, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.
Regional Insight
The geographical analysis of the global automotive smart display market has been done for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the rest of the world (RoW).
The prospects of APAC gaining the top spot in the global automotive smart display market is exceptionally high during the review period, followed by Europe and North America. The regional market growth is backed by strong demand for connected vehicles as well as the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Also, surging cases of road accidents along with the need for implementation of road safety measures can do wonders for the market in the region. Japan can emerge as a highly lucrative market for automotive smart display in the region. The robust demand for smart products among consumers also results in the invigorating market growth in the region.
Massive demand for convenience, safety, and comfort in automobiles contributes substantially towards the growth of automotive smart display market in Europe. Vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity along with vehicle-to-infrastructure has come to the fore as a highly attractive industry trend in the automotive smart display in the region.
In North America, augmented demand for luxury & innovation in-vehicle connectivity paired with safety technologies boosts growth of the automotive smart display market. Growing progress and advancements in autonomous vehicles with sophisticated displays can work in favor of the regional market in subsequent years.
Leading Players
The players currently leading the worldwide automotive smart display market include Garmin Ltd. (US), Alpine Electronics Inc. (Japan), Valeo SA (France), Delphi Automotive PLC (UK), LG Display (South Korea), Yazaki Corporation (Japan), Nippon Seiki Co. Ltd (Japan), Magna International Inc. (Canada), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Gentex Corporation (US), Denso Corporation (Japan), Continental AG (Germany), AU Optronics Corporation (Taiwan), Visteon Corporation (US), to mention a few.
Latest News
September 2019
Pioneer India recently launched a high-end in-car touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a 6.9-inch touch-sensitive display. It also includes a dual-camera input as well as quick charging for smartphones and a rear-seat entertainment display.
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Key Questions Addressed by the Report
What was the historic market size?
Which segmentation (Product/ Capacity) is driving market?
What will be the growth rate?
How are the key players in this market?
What are the strategies adopted by key players?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2 SCOPE OF THE REPORT
2.1 MARKET DEFINITION
2.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
2.2.1 DEFINITION
2.2.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
2.2.3 ASSUMPTIONS
2.2.4 LIMITATIONS
2.3 RESEARCH PROCESS
2.3.1 PRIMARY RESEARCH
2.3.2 SECONDARY RESEARCH
2.4 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION
2.5 FORECAST MODEL
3 MARKET LANDSCAPE
3.1.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS
3.1.2 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS
3.1.3 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES
3.1.4 SEGMENT RIVALRY
3.1.5 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS
3.2 VALUE CHAIN/SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS
4 MARKET DYNAMICS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 MARKET DRIVERS
4.3 MARKET RESTRAINTS
4.4 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
4.5 MARKET TRENDS
About Market Research Future:
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Edibles.
MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.
Media Contact Company Name: Market Research Future Contact Person: Abhishek Sawant Email: Send Email Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Address:Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar City: Pune State: Maharashtra Country: India Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com
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Pinoy arrives home after being stuck in Saudi for 6 years
#PHnews: Pinoy arrives home after being stuck in Saudi for 6 years
MANILA – After six long years in Saudi Arabia with no inkling whether he would be able to return to the Philippines, Malik Darimbang, a native of Marawi City, is home at last.
In February 2014, Malik figured in an accident after a Pakistani rammed the street sweeper vehicle he was driving, killing the foreigner on the spot.
"Hindi ko akalain na mangyari iyon, kasi naglilinis ako ng kalsada, tumatakbo na 'yong sasakyan ko pagkatapos nabangga ako sa likod. 'Pagbaba ko nakita ko na 'yong sasakyan sa likuran ng sasakyan ko (I couldn't believe it happened to me because I was only cleaning the road and a car suddenly rammed my vehicle)," he narrated.
"Noong sinandal na nila siya, kaunti lang 'yong dugo sa ilong lang, doon naiyak na ako kasi alam ko wala na siya, tao 'yon e (When they were helping the man, I can see that the blood was dripping from his nose and that's when I realized that he's already gone)," he recalled.
Malik Darimbang (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
He was detained for only 24 hours and the incident was tagged as a "road traffic accident", according to a briefer shared by the Department of Labor and Employment.
At that time, Malik was still able to work for months until Dec. 2014. The Saudi Lower Court of Makkah, later on, ruled that the OFW is 50 percent liable and must pay SAR150,000 for blood money, forcing him to stay in the Kingdom undocumented and awaiting financial assistance.
His son Amalhaya Abdul Carim said they only learned of his situation in 2016, two years after the incident.
"Hindi naman siya palaboy-laboy doon lang siya sa area ng kumpanya niya pero walang trabaho. Doon lang siya nakatira sa bahay ng mga ka-trabaho niya dati, binibigyan lang siya ng pagkain, nanghihingi (He's not really homeless but he gets by with the help of his former colleagues, sometimes he'd ask for food)," he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
"Noong malaman namin, naghanap talaga kami ng makakatulong sa amin kasi sobrang awang-awa na kami sa kanya. Kaso hindi talaga namin kayang i-put up 'yong PHP2.1 million kaya nagtagal talaga siya doon (When we heard about his situation, we felt sorry for our father, then we decided to raise money but we really can't put up the needed PHP2.1 million that's why he was not able to return)," he told PNA.
Another problem surfaced in 2017 when the Marawi siege happened that the family had to evacuate and continue raising the SAR150,000 in Iligan and Manila.
"Sa mga kaibigan ko lumapit ako sa kanila, tapos nagbenta rin kami ng mga t-shirt kaso sobrang liit lang din ng naipon, nagsimula kami noong 2017, hindi po umabot ng PHP50,000 (I asked my friends for help, we even sold t-shirts but we weren't able to save much, it hasn't even reached PHP50,000)," Amalhaya said.
According to DOLE, the country's foreign service post in Saudi Arabia endorsed Malik's case to its legal retainer in June 2018.
It also forwarded his appeal to the Al Otair Charity Group on February 17, 2020 for possible payment of blood money, but there was no response from the said group.
'Path home'
In September 2020, the family saw another hope. Amalhaya said Senator Christopher Lawrence Go gave his commitment to finding a donor who is willing to pay for the blood money.
"September 2020 doon kami naka-connect kay Senator Bong Go, then nag-video call kami at nangako siya na bago mag-Pasko kumpleto na (kami), maghahanap daw siya ng sponsor kasi bawal kunin sa kaban ng bayan 'yong blood money niya (It was September 2020 when we talked to Senator Bong Go, he promised that by Christmastime, we will all be together)," he said.
In a statement, Go said a private donor offered to pay for the blood money amounting to USD40,090.38.
“Ang ginawa ko po, mayroong isang kaibigan na nagkausap po kami noong isang araw, nagkataon lang po na mayroong pagtitipon, naikuwento ko po ito at hindi po siya nag-dalawang-isip na tutulong po kaagad (What I did was talk to a friend and when I shared about the case of Darimbang, that person did not hesitate to help),” Go said.
“Iyon po ang magandang balita, na puwede natin ma-raise 'yong amount na 'yon. Humingi naman ako ng suporta mula sa opisyales, lalo na (kay) Ambassador (Adnan Alonto) doon na tulungan kami na mapabilis 'yong kanyang proseso para po makalaya at makabalik na po si Carim (Darimbang) dito sa ating bansa (That was thegood news then that we'll be able to raise the amount needed. I also asked the officials of the Embassy, including the Ambassador in Saudi Arabia to help with the process),” he added.
The blood money was paid through a charity group sometime in October and the clearance from the Saudi court was issued in November. Malik arrived in Manila this month after his final exit visa was issued on December 1.
Malik Darimbang is reunited with his family. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go)
Ashleya Limbona, a member of Arkay Lawanen from Marawi City who also helped the family, expressed her gratitude to the government.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami dahil hindi ho ninyo kinalimutan na may mga Muslim na katulad ni Baba (Darimbang) na nagpakahirap po doon at medyo hindi pinalad pero tuloy pa rin ang buhay dahil ho sa inyo (We want to thank everyone because they did not forget that a Muslim like Baba is struggling abroad),” Limbona said.
“Iparating po natin kay President Rodrigo Duterte, maraming salamat po. Sa inyo po, sa OWWA din po, hindi niya pinabayaan dahil kung wala din ho si Senator Bong Go, wala rin ho magbibigay ng blood money which is very impossible na ma-raise up namin dahil dumaan din ang mga pamilya niya sa Marawi siege, kahit anong gawin nilang mag ipon-ipon hindi po namin kaya ‘yun. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat (We thank President Rodrigo Duterte, OWWA and Senator Bong Go, without whom we won't be able to raise the blood money),” she added.
Malik is set to return to his hometown in Marawi City, the flight of which will be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Aside from his flight ticket, the government also provided the family with cash assistance and a livelihood package, which will be turned over upon assessment in the coming weeks, said OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac. (PNA)
***
References:
* Philippine News Agency. "Pinoy arrives home after being stuck in Saudi for 6 years." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125148 (accessed December 18, 2020 at 11:46PM UTC+14).
* Philippine News Agency. "Pinoy arrives home after being stuck in Saudi for 6 years." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125148 (archived).
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Dangerous stunt driving : The deadly scourge of Saudi roads
Arab Drifting, Saudi Drifting, or Middle East drifting, known in Arab countries as Tafheet or Hajwalah, is an illegal street racing-like phenomenon believed to have started in the late 1970s that involves trying to "drift" cars; to drive cars that are generally non-modified factory-setup rental cars at very high speeds, around 160–260 km/h (100–160 mph), across wide highways throwing the car left and right. In the process, racers often drive dangerously close to traffic, barriers, and spectators watching from the roadsides without any protection.
Tafheet driver practice and events are generally seen on the wide sectioned highways of Riyadh, Al-Qassim Province and, less notably, in other parts of Saudi Arabia. The technique does not involve recognised high-speed rally racing skills such as high-speed cornering using power slides. The skill involves sliding around on a wide flat straight road section at high speed, drifting sideways, and recovering with opposite lock, repeatedly. Tafheet practice and events occur with little or no concern for vehicle occupants, other drivers, or spectator safety. Many videos and compilations of the minor and horrific accidents that result are posted online.
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My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV
My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV When Benson' Wambua's mum passed on when he was ten years old, his dad became a chronic alcoholic that took little or no charge at being his dad. At the age of eleven he found himself in the streets of Nairobi when his dad, who he is yet to meet to date, abandoned him. He survived on begging for over eight years, spending cold nights in the streets of Nairobi and then on one fine morning, a stranger came his way, got him from the streets and took him for driving classes before employing him as his motorcycle rider. His slowly begun to breath life into the days he had lost in the streets of Nairobi. Three years on Benson meets the love of his life Rosemary Wanjiku and they move in together.A year into their marriage life,they are blessed with a son.Benson had the hope that they will live happily ever after,sharing the burdens that life brings their way together. In 2018, Benson is involved in a grisly hit and run road accident with the motorbike he had been using to fend for his family. He survives the ordeal albeit with a badly broken leg Life became unbearable for him and his family given that he was the sole provider.He was forced to become a tout, however painful his leg was,to at least raise even something to buy food for his family.One day as he is about his business, he receives a call from a friend asking him why he is relocating from his house without even letting him know. He rushes home only to find his wife gone with his son and the only possession his wife leaves behind is his shoe-rack, a seat and his clothes. Subscribe to Tuko TV on Youtube: https://goo.gl/y8QBbm __ Top-5 | Tuko TV - Kenyan Top List - https://bit.ly/2G2RR75 Would you like to be the first one to know the latest news about Kenya and Africa? Tuko TV can definitely make it happen. These top 5 videos contain the most interesting and shocking data on politics, sports, medicine, residents of Kenya, and many other important facts about the country. The Kenyan Top List contains the most shocking miracles by African pastors, the most surprising facts about Kikuyu people, and even medical miracles achieved by the Kenyan Doctors! Save this playlist to get an access to the Kenya Best Lists and stay updated with the latest stories and trends in Kenya. Entertainment news in Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2G0C1JX In this playlist, you can find the best Entertainment news in Kenya. Do you want to hear about the latest celebrity news in Kenya and Africa? Tuko.co.ke has collected the most intriguing and fascinating Kenya news that will leave you speechless. Do you want to find out why Kenyan women cook “maini” for their husbands? What is a female and how to properly use it? Save this playlist and be the first one to find out all of the answers! Special projects of Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2Iu6ntz Are you ready to hear the most horrific facts of Africa? Tuko.co.ke is ready to present you the most interesting documentaries and stories that recently happened in Kenya. Watch the people telling stories about child marriages, small businesses ideas, gender violence, and many other important topics among Faces of Kenya. Do you want to hear a story of a Kenyan domestic worker in Saudi Arabia and find out how a Kenyan man is spending millions to change his gender? Save this playlist and stay informed about all of the latest updates and topics in Kenya. Current affairs in Kenya | Tuko TV | Kenya News - https://bit.ly/2IdnUTO In this Tuko.co.ke playlist, you can find all of the current affairs in Kenya! It is full of the latest news from Kenya, including politics, scandals, reactions, and statements. Do you like watching people’s reactions and opinions on different life situations? Are you interested in being the first one to share the news of Kenya among your friends and family? Save this playlist and be updated on every major situation and problem happening In Kenya at this very moment. Tuko BUZZ | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2KRtFIb On Tuko BUZZ, you can find the latest collection of Kenyan music news and facts. This playlist will come in handy for all of the music lovers out there. We explicitly created this playlist on Tuko.co.ke to help you stay informed about all of the influential Kenyan singers, including their relationships, family lives, marriages, and life crisis. Do you want to know what is going on with your favorite Kenyan artists today? Save this playlist and stay informed on the popular Kenyan artists and their lives at the moment. __ Connect with Tuko TV Online! Site Tuko: https://www.tuko.co.ke/ Follow Tuko TV on Facebook: https://ift.tt/2qEwBQ6 Follow Tuko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tuko_co_ke Tuko Lifestyle: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUK... __ Visit TUKO’s official YouTube channel to get today’s breaking news, latest and most relevant updates, most pressing issues in Kenya, Nairobi news, entertainment news, sports news. #tukotv #tukonews #tukocoke # 1,743 Comments
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New video by Tuko / Tuco - Kenya on YouTube
My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV When Benson' Wambua's mum passed on when he was ten years old, his dad became a chronic alcoholic that took little or no charge at being his dad. At the age of eleven he found himself in the streets of Nairobi when his dad, who he is yet to meet to date, abandoned him. He survived on begging for over eight years, spending cold nights in the streets of Nairobi and then on one fine morning, a stranger came his way, got him from the streets and took him for driving classes before employing him as his motorcycle rider. His slowly begun to breath life into the days he had lost in the streets of Nairobi. Three years on Benson meets the love of his life Rosemary Wanjiku and they move in together.A year into their marriage life,they are blessed with a son.Benson had the hope that they will live happily ever after,sharing the burdens that life brings their way together. In 2018, Benson is involved in a grisly hit and run road accident with the motorbike he had been using to fend for his family. He survives the ordeal albeit with a badly broken leg Life became unbearable for him and his family given that he was the sole provider.He was forced to become a tout, however painful his leg was,to at least raise even something to buy food for his family.One day as he is about his business, he receives a call from a friend asking him why he is relocating from his house without even letting him know. He rushes home only to find his wife gone with his son and the only possession his wife leaves behind is his shoe-rack, a seat and his clothes. Subscribe to Tuko TV on Youtube: https://goo.gl/y8QBbm __ Top-5 | Tuko TV - Kenyan Top List - https://bit.ly/2G2RR75 Would you like to be the first one to know the latest news about Kenya and Africa? Tuko TV can definitely make it happen. These top 5 videos contain the most interesting and shocking data on politics, sports, medicine, residents of Kenya, and many other important facts about the country. The Kenyan Top List contains the most shocking miracles by African pastors, the most surprising facts about Kikuyu people, and even medical miracles achieved by the Kenyan Doctors! Save this playlist to get an access to the Kenya Best Lists and stay updated with the latest stories and trends in Kenya. Entertainment news in Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2G0C1JX In this playlist, you can find the best Entertainment news in Kenya. Do you want to hear about the latest celebrity news in Kenya and Africa? Tuko.co.ke has collected the most intriguing and fascinating Kenya news that will leave you speechless. Do you want to find out why Kenyan women cook “maini” for their husbands? What is a female and how to properly use it? Save this playlist and be the first one to find out all of the answers! Special projects of Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2Iu6ntz Are you ready to hear the most horrific facts of Africa? Tuko.co.ke is ready to present you the most interesting documentaries and stories that recently happened in Kenya. Watch the people telling stories about child marriages, small businesses ideas, gender violence, and many other important topics among Faces of Kenya. Do you want to hear a story of a Kenyan domestic worker in Saudi Arabia and find out how a Kenyan man is spending millions to change his gender? Save this playlist and stay informed about all of the latest updates and topics in Kenya. Current affairs in Kenya | Tuko TV | Kenya News - https://bit.ly/2IdnUTO In this Tuko.co.ke playlist, you can find all of the current affairs in Kenya! It is full of the latest news from Kenya, including politics, scandals, reactions, and statements. Do you like watching people’s reactions and opinions on different life situations? Are you interested in being the first one to share the news of Kenya among your friends and family? Save this playlist and be updated on every major situation and problem happening In Kenya at this very moment. Tuko BUZZ | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2KRtFIb On Tuko BUZZ, you can find the latest collection of Kenyan music news and facts. This playlist will come in handy for all of the music lovers out there. We explicitly created this playlist on Tuko.co.ke to help you stay informed about all of the influential Kenyan singers, including their relationships, family lives, marriages, and life crisis. Do you want to know what is going on with your favorite Kenyan artists today? Save this playlist and stay informed on the popular Kenyan artists and their lives at the moment. __ Connect with Tuko TV Online! Site Tuko: https://www.tuko.co.ke/ Follow Tuko TV on Facebook: https://ift.tt/2qEwBQ6 Follow Tuko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tuko_co_ke Tuko Lifestyle: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUK... __ Visit TUKO’s official YouTube channel to get today’s breaking news, latest and most relevant updates, most pressing issues in Kenya, Nairobi news, entertainment news, sports news. #tukotv #tukonews #tukocoke # 1,743 Comments
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My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV
My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV When Benson' Wambua's mum passed on when he was ten years old, his dad became a chronic alcoholic that took little or no charge at being his dad. At the age of eleven he found himself in the streets of Nairobi when his dad, who he is yet to meet to date, abandoned him. He survived on begging for over eight years, spending cold nights in the streets of Nairobi and then on one fine morning, a stranger came his way, got him from the streets and took him for driving classes before employing him as his motorcycle rider. His slowly begun to breath life into the days he had lost in the streets of Nairobi. Three years on Benson meets the love of his life Rosemary Wanjiku and they move in together.A year into their marriage life,they are blessed with a son.Benson had the hope that they will live happily ever after,sharing the burdens that life brings their way together. In 2018, Benson is involved in a grisly hit and run road accident with the motorbike he had been using to fend for his family. He survives the ordeal albeit with a badly broken leg Life became unbearable for him and his family given that he was the sole provider.He was forced to become a tout, however painful his leg was,to at least raise even something to buy food for his family.One day as he is about his business, he receives a call from a friend asking him why he is relocating from his house without even letting him know. He rushes home only to find his wife gone with his son and the only possession his wife leaves behind is his shoe-rack, a seat and his clothes. Subscribe to Tuko TV on Youtube: https://goo.gl/y8QBbm __ Top-5 | Tuko TV - Kenyan Top List - https://bit.ly/2G2RR75 Would you like to be the first one to know the latest news about Kenya and Africa? Tuko TV can definitely make it happen. These top 5 videos contain the most interesting and shocking data on politics, sports, medicine, residents of Kenya, and many other important facts about the country. The Kenyan Top List contains the most shocking miracles by African pastors, the most surprising facts about Kikuyu people, and even medical miracles achieved by the Kenyan Doctors! Save this playlist to get an access to the Kenya Best Lists and stay updated with the latest stories and trends in Kenya. Entertainment news in Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2G0C1JX In this playlist, you can find the best Entertainment news in Kenya. Do you want to hear about the latest celebrity news in Kenya and Africa? Tuko.co.ke has collected the most intriguing and fascinating Kenya news that will leave you speechless. Do you want to find out why Kenyan women cook “maini” for their husbands? What is a female and how to properly use it? Save this playlist and be the first one to find out all of the answers! Special projects of Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2Iu6ntz Are you ready to hear the most horrific facts of Africa? Tuko.co.ke is ready to present you the most interesting documentaries and stories that recently happened in Kenya. Watch the people telling stories about child marriages, small businesses ideas, gender violence, and many other important topics among Faces of Kenya. Do you want to hear a story of a Kenyan domestic worker in Saudi Arabia and find out how a Kenyan man is spending millions to change his gender? Save this playlist and stay informed about all of the latest updates and topics in Kenya. Current affairs in Kenya | Tuko TV | Kenya News - https://bit.ly/2IdnUTO In this Tuko.co.ke playlist, you can find all of the current affairs in Kenya! It is full of the latest news from Kenya, including politics, scandals, reactions, and statements. Do you like watching people’s reactions and opinions on different life situations? Are you interested in being the first one to share the news of Kenya among your friends and family? Save this playlist and be updated on every major situation and problem happening In Kenya at this very moment. Tuko BUZZ | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2KRtFIb On Tuko BUZZ, you can find the latest collection of Kenyan music news and facts. This playlist will come in handy for all of the music lovers out there. We explicitly created this playlist on Tuko.co.ke to help you stay informed about all of the influential Kenyan singers, including their relationships, family lives, marriages, and life crisis. Do you want to know what is going on with your favorite Kenyan artists today? Save this playlist and stay informed on the popular Kenyan artists and their lives at the moment. __ Connect with Tuko TV Online! Site Tuko: https://www.tuko.co.ke/ Follow Tuko TV on Facebook: https://ift.tt/2qEwBQ6 Follow Tuko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tuko_co_ke Tuko Lifestyle: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUK... __ Visit TUKO’s official YouTube channel to get today’s breaking news, latest and most relevant updates, most pressing issues in Kenya, Nairobi news, entertainment news, sports news. #tukotv #tukonews #tukocoke # 1,743 Comments
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My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV
My wife abandoned me when I needed her most - Benson Wambua | Tuko TV When Benson' Wambua's mum passed on when he was ten years old, his dad became a chronic alcoholic that took little or no charge at being his dad. At the age of eleven he found himself in the streets of Nairobi when his dad, who he is yet to meet to date, abandoned him. He survived on begging for over eight years, spending cold nights in the streets of Nairobi and then on one fine morning, a stranger came his way, got him from the streets and took him for driving classes before employing him as his motorcycle rider. His slowly begun to breath life into the days he had lost in the streets of Nairobi. Three years on Benson meets the love of his life Rosemary Wanjiku and they move in together.A year into their marriage life,they are blessed with a son.Benson had the hope that they will live happily ever after,sharing the burdens that life brings their way together. In 2018, Benson is involved in a grisly hit and run road accident with the motorbike he had been using to fend for his family. He survives the ordeal albeit with a badly broken leg Life became unbearable for him and his family given that he was the sole provider.He was forced to become a tout, however painful his leg was,to at least raise even something to buy food for his family.One day as he is about his business, he receives a call from a friend asking him why he is relocating from his house without even letting him know. He rushes home only to find his wife gone with his son and the only possession his wife leaves behind is his shoe-rack, a seat and his clothes. Subscribe to Tuko TV on Youtube: https://goo.gl/y8QBbm __ Top-5 | Tuko TV - Kenyan Top List - https://bit.ly/2G2RR75 Would you like to be the first one to know the latest news about Kenya and Africa? Tuko TV can definitely make it happen. These top 5 videos contain the most interesting and shocking data on politics, sports, medicine, residents of Kenya, and many other important facts about the country. The Kenyan Top List contains the most shocking miracles by African pastors, the most surprising facts about Kikuyu people, and even medical miracles achieved by the Kenyan Doctors! Save this playlist to get an access to the Kenya Best Lists and stay updated with the latest stories and trends in Kenya. Entertainment news in Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2G0C1JX In this playlist, you can find the best Entertainment news in Kenya. Do you want to hear about the latest celebrity news in Kenya and Africa? Tuko.co.ke has collected the most intriguing and fascinating Kenya news that will leave you speechless. Do you want to find out why Kenyan women cook “maini” for their husbands? What is a female and how to properly use it? Save this playlist and be the first one to find out all of the answers! Special projects of Kenya | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2Iu6ntz Are you ready to hear the most horrific facts of Africa? Tuko.co.ke is ready to present you the most interesting documentaries and stories that recently happened in Kenya. Watch the people telling stories about child marriages, small businesses ideas, gender violence, and many other important topics among Faces of Kenya. Do you want to hear a story of a Kenyan domestic worker in Saudi Arabia and find out how a Kenyan man is spending millions to change his gender? Save this playlist and stay informed about all of the latest updates and topics in Kenya. Current affairs in Kenya | Tuko TV | Kenya News - https://bit.ly/2IdnUTO In this Tuko.co.ke playlist, you can find all of the current affairs in Kenya! It is full of the latest news from Kenya, including politics, scandals, reactions, and statements. Do you like watching people’s reactions and opinions on different life situations? Are you interested in being the first one to share the news of Kenya among your friends and family? Save this playlist and be updated on every major situation and problem happening In Kenya at this very moment. Tuko BUZZ | Tuko TV - https://bit.ly/2KRtFIb On Tuko BUZZ, you can find the latest collection of Kenyan music news and facts. This playlist will come in handy for all of the music lovers out there. We explicitly created this playlist on Tuko.co.ke to help you stay informed about all of the influential Kenyan singers, including their relationships, family lives, marriages, and life crisis. Do you want to know what is going on with your favorite Kenyan artists today? Save this playlist and stay informed on the popular Kenyan artists and their lives at the moment. __ Connect with Tuko TV Online! Site Tuko: https://www.tuko.co.ke/ Follow Tuko TV on Facebook: https://ift.tt/2qEwBQ6 Follow Tuko TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tuko_co_ke Tuko Lifestyle: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUK... __ Visit TUKO’s official YouTube channel to get today’s breaking news, latest and most relevant updates, most pressing issues in Kenya, Nairobi news, entertainment news, sports news. #tukotv #tukonews #tukocoke # 1,743 Comments
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Chronicles of hitchhiking and backpacking in Saudi Arabia
The following article narrates my personal adventures when I was backpacking in Saudi Arabia. For tips and advice on visiting the country, I recommend you read: How to travel to Saudi Arabia in 2019
We were driving at 185km per hour.
I know, it doesn’t seem like WOW, but when the driver is overtaking on both sides, by the shoulder of the road, like he was in a rally, in a car with no security belts, well… it was scary as fuck.
I was in the copilot seat, pulling my body towards it, holding onto whatever was available and, with a tense, fake smile, I was trying to pretend I was not nervous at all, but hell I was.
That Saudi man, however, seemed to be very calm, basically because he had been watching YouTube videos on his phone since the beginning, without paying much attention to the road.
Occasionally, without even slowing down, he would put his arms behind his head and drive and overtake with his knees.
It looked like he had everything under control. Should I worry about it then?
Sometimes, he would lift up his phone to make some selfie Snapchat videos. Just a couple of seconds videos, not a big deal.
Saudi man – Look at the camera! hahahaha
I tried to look at the camera with my fake smile, but couldn’t stop looking at the road.
Then, after a couple of minutes of complete silence, in order to break the ice, when I saw there were some military clothes on the backseat, I said:
Are you in the army?
As an answer, he pulled out a gun from the glove compartment and, while holding it with his right hand, he said:
Of course, I am in the army, hahahaha
Fortunately, he put it away and went back to the classic routine of driving at 185km/h while watching YouTube videos.
Saudi – My father and one of my brothers died in a car accident. In two separate accidents actually.
Me – Oh, I am sorry – But that doesn’t really comfort me, I thought
Me – Then, you should drive more carefully – I said, in an attempt of making him feel bad about it.
Saudi – hahahaha
Honestly, he was nice, but as crazy as fuck
We were 30km away from his city, the place where I was supposed to get off to continue with my journey.
I really wanted to get out but, fortunately, we would be there soon enough.
However, when it seemed that nothing worse could happen, I noticed that a 4×4 was approaching us at full speed, it aligned with us and the driver started yelling like a crazy man.
‘My’ Saudi pulled down the window down and started:
Saudi – Hey fuck you, fuck you, hahahaha – He yelled in English, while putting up his middle finger.
Saudi – He is my brother, hahaha
And the worst came when they decided to have a race.
Saudi – My brother is crazy, hahaha. He is drunk probably. He drinks every day.
I didn’t know whether to believe it or not but he was crazy as fuck indeed.
Fortunately, we made it to his village and I had never been before so happy to touch solid ground.
Then he invited me to come to his house, to have some coffee because, after lunch, he was going to I don’t know where in the same direction I was going to, but I told him:
No, thanks, I prefer to continue on my way now.
There was no chance I would ever get again into his car.
Welcome to Saudi Arabia
Read: A two-week itinerary in Saudi Arabia
Did you find it funny?
Sure, I find it funny too, but not when I was there.
After being in so many places in the Middle East and other Asian countries, with loads of bad reputations for driving, I can finally confirm that Saudi Arabia has the sickest people on wheels.
However, the problem isn’t that they drive fast but they are fearless people.
They aren’t afraid to die because they drive at 180km/h and keep switching between lanes without giving a shit about who may come up from behind.
It is a very particular cultural fact.
During my journey, I met loads of crazy people, especially in the countryside and the problem is that, when you hitchhike, many of those crazy fucks could be your potential traveling partner.
Moreover, it seems that all cities in Saudi are connected by several-lane highways where cars are all-free-to-go and, obviously, you need to stand on the edge of those roads.
Hitchhiking in Saudi Arabia
And, how do they stop if they drive so fast? – Good question.
Obviously, Western backpackers are a rare thing to see in Saudi Arabia, so when they saw me, they were doing a U-turn or, sometimes, even going in reverse (on the highway, yes).
What can you say then? Despite being crazy, they seem good people so, of course, you get in.
I hitchhiked more than 1,300km and, as you may imagine, I got lifts from many people.
According to my calculations, I would say that 50% of Saudis drove normally, 35% pretty fast and then 15% were absolutely sick people.
It was an adventure worth mentioning but I wouldn’t do it again.
Read: Saudi as a solo woman traveler
Saudi is the country of extremes
On the one hand, when you are backpacking in Saudi Arabia, you can have your worst hitchhiking experiences ever but, on the other hand, you can have some of the best as a traveler.
Let me introduce you to my friend Abdullah.
Abdullah
I was waiting close to the edge of a city named Al-Kharj.
From 20 meters away, I saw a man doing a U-turn yelling at me.
Typical Saudi: people who see you from far away and do U-turns just to say hello.
He approached and said: Hey! Where are you going?
Me – Well, my final destination is Jizan (it was more than 1,000km away), so I am going in that direction
Abdullah – I was going home but I am free now, so I can take you to the next city if you want.
The next city was called Hotat Bani Tamim and it was 80km away from Kharj, so that good man was willing to drive 160km just for fun, because he was kind and because I was his guest, according to him.
Abdullah was an English teacher and a very traditional Saudi man who strictly follows Saudi culture and Islam.
He was one of those men who, by just seeing his face and the way he talks, you knew he was a kind-hearted man.
During our journey, we talked about so many topics, and he taught me many things about their interpretation of Islam, things that opened my eyes and made me understand their culture better.
When we arrived in Hotat Bani Tamim, I thought he would just drop me off in a good hitchhiking spot.
Abdullah – No, you aren’t living until we have some coffee together. Let’s call a friend of mine who lives here.
We went to his friend’s farm. They took me around their palm dates plantations, we had some coffee, talked about many things and when it seemed we were OK to go, they said:
Abdullah – No, you can’t leave until we have lunch together.
Abdullah and his friend
In his friend’s farm
They ordered a huge dish of Yemeni mandi and when we finished, he said:
Abdullah – No, you can’t leave until we show you his camel farm.
The fact is that I didn’t care about arriving late at my final destination because that was the reason I came to Saudi.
I was extremely happy to experience, at first hand, the rural life in Saudi Arabia, so different from live in Jeddah and Riyadh and extremely different from the one the media and that biased Netflix documentary show us.
That backpacking experience was priceless, one that few people have been able to experience and, if I hadn’t hitchhiked, I would have never met these beautiful people.
With Abdullah in his camel farm
When you are hitchhiking or backpacking in Saudi Arabia, these experiences happen continuously, to a greater or lesser degree
I said it many times, but I will say it again.
People in Saudi are, definitely, as hospitable as the ones you meet when you travel in Iran, Pakistan, and Oman.
Meeting Abdullah was the best example but I met many others like him.
Ibrahim is another example worth mentioning.
I had just arrived in Abha, 1,000km south of Riyadh, and I was wandering around the market with my heavy backpack, as I still didn’t know where I would spend the night.
Hey! Is this a parachute? – One Saudi asked me
Is it an inflatable boat? – Another Saudi said
That kind of comments made me realize that I was in an unprecedented destination for backpackers.
While I was forced to taste the different kinds of honey from all the available stalls until I had nausea, one man named Ibrahim approached me.
We had been talking for a while about the reasons that brought me to Saudi when he said:
Tonight you are staying with me and, tomorrow I will show you around.
We went to eat some seafood, stayed at his friend’s and, on the next day, he took me around Abha’s mountains.
Again, this level of hospitality was beyond any expectations.
With Ibrahim
Ibrahim was a beekeeper and, apparently, one of the most famous in Saudi Arabia. In fact, he won the 3rd prize for having the best honey in all Asia in the most important Asian convention, held in Malaysia.
He also came from a very traditional family and, actually, his father was an important Imam in the region. However and, controversially for a man from this region and background, he was married to a Filipina woman and had a little girl, which he kept from his family for a very long time, but this would be a different story.
Sightseeing with Ibrahim
Personally, Saudi Arabia surprised me more than any other places I have been to
There are many misunderstood societies all around the world, Iran for example, but, before visiting Iran, I had already heard about their hospitality, so I was not that surprised when I experienced it.
In Saudi Arabia, however, all I had heard was bad things about them, like the distortions of reality from the media and the stories from people who had gone there for business, a sort of traveler whose opinions I would never trust.
And, in case you are wondering, Ibrahim and Abdullah weren’t exceptions.
Hospitality everywhere, even in the most random spots
Hanging out with some Saudis
Those men were people coming from traditional families with traditional values, good people with a completely different culture from us and, despite not sharing many aspects of it, I respect their beliefs and, somehow, I can understand their point of view.
Some Saudis will actually tell you simple facts about their culture which, for a Westerner, can literally be translated into crazy stories, like when I met those guys from Jizan.
In Jizan, one of the remotest areas of Saudi, thanks to Couchsurfing, I managed to meet up with a group of young Saudis in their 20s.
They took me on a day trip to the mountains.
As usually happens, those Saudis were absolutely beautiful people but they had some really crazy cultural aspects.
For example, all of them had at least 15 siblings, one of them having 25.
Some of them were all from the same mother and father, while others were from different mothers, as their fathers had 2-3 wives (at the same time).
Having more than a wife is common all around the Muslim world but it is usually a rare thing to see, whereas, in this part of Saudi, it was a very normal thing.
I went to one of those guys’ house, which was a huge 3-floor mansion.
Young Saudi – We live all together here and even when some of my brothers get married, they live here with their wives as well.
He even lost count of how many people were living in his house but more than 30, definitely.
Me – And do you ever talk to your sisters-in-law?
Young Saudi – No, no, no way. In fact, I have never seen their face, only with niqab.
Me – Are you telling me that you live with your sisters-in-law, yet you don’t know what they look like, not even from a photo?
(Actually, I had already seen this situation when I during my backpacking journey through Pakistan).
Young Saudi – Exactly. It is forbidden. You can only see your direct relatives and the only exception is when you get engaged, as you are allowed to see the face of your potential wife for a few minutes, with her acceptance and in presence of her parents. I actually got engaged a few months ago, so I was allowed to see my future wife’s face and, since we liked each other and our parents agreed to it, we are getting married next year.
In Jizan
Yes, they decided to get married in a 5-minute blind-date, and they won’t see each other until the wedding day.
In that region of Jizan, I never saw a single local lady who didn’t wear the niqab and, since that guy had barely left the region, only once or twice to Jeddah, it made me wonder if he had ever seen the face of a Saudi woman before traveling out of Jizan.
Me – At what age did you see the face of a random Saudi woman for the first time?
Young Saudi – Well, there are some women here in Jizan who don’t wear the niqab but it is not good because it goes against our religion’s rules.
That guy, along with most people from his region, truly believed in all those rules, but I was happy to listen to him because it is their culture and, as travelers, we need to respect them and not interfere with their way of living.
After coming back from Saudi and uploading all my photos on Instagram and writing many stories, I received shit loads of hatred messages from some followers:
How can you promote a country that doesn’t respect basic human rights? How can you say good things about those people who stone their wives to death? Sexist! Ignorant, you don’t know anything
a man praying somewhere in Saudi
Obviously, all these comments came from people who have never been to Saudi and I still find it unbelievable that, at this time, people still believe everything the media says, but I guess it will always be like that.
For a better understanding, I recommend you read:
Is it ethical to go to Saudi Arabia?
Saudi as a solo woman traveler
Like in any country around the world, you will find good and bad people but I am telling that Saudis are particularly hospitable as compared to other nationalities and cultures and, as a backpacker, you will have one of the best experiences of your lifetime.
Here you can read all my articles and guides to Saudi Arabia
More travel stories
Visiting a Syrian refugee camp in Iraq Tales of backpacking in Iraqi Kurdistan Sneaking into an Afghan village in Pakistan Airbnb in a Palestinian refugee camp Tales of the Nubian people in Sudan The day I was accused of being an Islamic State spy
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Automotive Film Market Size, Top Manufacturers, Material, Composite and End-user, Forecast to 2023
Automotive Film Market 2019 Industry report gives a comprehensive account of the Global Automotive Film market. Details such as the size, key players, segmentation, SWOT analysis, most influential trends, and business environment of the market are mentioned in this report.
Automotive Film Market Analysis:
Automotive films are coatings used as protection against mechanical as well as ultraviolet protection. Automotive films possess superior properties such as impact resistance against normal road hazards, protection against harmful UV rays, increasing privacy of vehicles, and color protection of the vehicles. They can be applied in automotive interiors such as console, audio or video remote control system, dials, control panels, and door trim. They provide a broad range of design facility and aesthetic appeal and is widely used in passenger cars, heavy duty vehicles and light duty vehicles. Moreover, they provide a variety of colors and styles along with increasing privacy and reducing interior cabin temperature.
Get Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4455
Competitive analysis
Avery Dennison Corporation
Eastman Chemical Company
Arlon Graphics
MATERIAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
DuPont
Garware Suncontrol
Johnson Window Films
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
Kay Premium Marking Films LTD
As per our analysis, some of the important market factors and trends identified in the global automotive film market include rapid urbanization, increasing disposable income, rising automotive production and sales. Moreover, continuous growth in automotive sector coupled with the rising consumer awareness regarding the maintenance aspect of vehicles is predicted to drive the growth of the market over the forecast period.
Additionally, rapid industrialization and increasing number of working population have increased the demand for personal vehicles, which in turn, have increased the production & sales of automotive vehicles. The aforementioned factor is expected to propel the demand for automotive film during the review period, 2017 to 2023.
Segmentation:
The global Automotive Film Market is categorized on the basis of type, application, vehicle type, and region. On the basis of type, the market is classified into wrap films, window films, and paint protection films. Window film can be subdivided into ceramic, hybrid, metallized, and dyed films. Based on film types, the window film segment is expected to be the largest segment of the automotive film market over the assessment period. These films help in blocking the UV rays, which help in lowering the inside temperature of the vehicle and reduce the fuel consumption. Moreover, they improve the fuel efficiency by decreasing the load on the engine. Additionally, they provide better safety by preventing the glass from shattering during the accidents.
Regional Analysis:
North America is estimated to be the largest automotive film market followed by Europe and Asia Pacific on account of strong existence of many big market players. Germany is predicted to register a strong growth due to tremendous demand of paint protection film in automobile sector. In Asia Pacific, countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea are the fastest growing market for automotive film, and is estimated to grow with the same pace over the assessment period. Rising living standards along with the flourishing growth of automotive sector is predicted to contribute in the regional market growth. In North America, U.S and Mexico are among the major contributors in the regional market growth due to expansion of automotive sector. The Middle Eastern and African countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are predicted to witness steady growth on account of rising foreign investments and shifting of manufacturing base to these region.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Table 1 World Population by Major Regions (2016 To 2030)
Table 2 Global Automotive Film Market: By Region,
Table 3 North America Automotive Film Market: By Country,
Table 4 Europe Automotive Film Market: By Country,
Table 5 Asia-Pacific Automotive Film Market: By Country,
Table 6 Middle East & Africa Automotive Film Market: By Country
Table 7 Latin America Automotive Film Market: By Country
Table 8 Global Automotive Film by Type Market: By Regions
Table 9 North America Automotive Film by Type Market: By Country
Table 10 Europe Automotive Film by Type Market: By Country
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Facebook is not equipped to stop the spread of authoritarianism
After the driver of a speeding bus ran over and killed two college students in Dhaka in July, student protesters took to the streets. They forced the ordinarily disorganized local traffic to drive in strict lanes and stopped vehicles to inspect license and registration papers. They even halted the vehicle of the Chief of Bangladesh Police Bureau of Investigation and found that his license was expired. And they posted videos and information about the protests on Facebook.
The fatal road accident that led to these protests was hardly an isolated incident. Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, which was ranked the second least livable city in the world in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 global liveability index, scored 26.8 out of 100 in the infrastructure category included in the rating. But the regional government chose to stifle the highway safety protests anyway. It went so far as raids of residential areas adjacent to universities to check social media activity, leading to the arrest of 20 students. Although there were many images of Bangladesh Chhatra League, or BCL men, committing acts of violence on students, none of them were arrested. (The BCL is the student wing of the ruling Awami League, one of the major political parties of Bangladesh.)
Students were forced to log into their Facebook profiles and were arrested or beaten for their posts, photographs, and videos. In one instance, BCL men called three students into the dorm’s guestroom, quizzed them over Facebook posts, beat them, and then handed them over to police. They were reportedly tortured in custody.
A pregnant school teacher was arrested and jailed for just over two weeks for “spreading rumors” due to sharing a Facebook post about student protests. A photographer and social justice activist spent more than 100 days in jail for describing police violence during these protests; he told reporters he was beaten in custody. And a university professor was jailed for 37 days for his Facebook posts.
A Dhaka resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear for their safety said that the crackdown on social media posts essentially silenced student protesters, many of which removed photos, videos, and status updates about the protests from their profiles entirely. While the person thought that students were continuing to be arrested, they said, “nobody is talking about it anymore — at least in my network — because everyone kind of ‘got the memo’ if you know what I mean.”
This isn’t the first time Bangladeshi citizens have been arrested for Facebook posts. As just one example, in April 2017, a rubber plantation worker in southern Bangladesh was arrested and detained for three months for liking and sharing a Facebook post that criticized the prime minister’s visit to India, according to Human Rights Watch.
Bangladesh is far from alone. Government harassment to silence dissent on social media has occurred across the region and in other regions as well — and it often comes hand-in-hand with governments filing takedown requests with Facebook and requesting data on users.
Facebook has removed posts critical of the prime minister in Cambodia and reportedly “agreed to coordinate in the monitoring and removal of content” in Vietnam. Facebook was criticized for not stopping the repression of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, where military personnel created fake accounts to spread propaganda which human rights groups say fueled violence and forced displacement. Facebook has since undertaken a human rights impact assessment in Myanmar, and it has also taken down coordinated inauthentic accounts in the country.
UNITED STATES – APRIL 10: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing on “Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data”on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Protesters scrubbing Facebook data for fears of repercussions isn’t uncommon. Over and over again, authoritarian-leaning regimes have utilized low-tech strategies to quell dissent. And aside from providing resources related to online privacy and security, Facebook still has little in place to protect its most vulnerable users from these pernicious efforts. As various countries pass laws calling for a local presence and increased regulation, it is possible that the social media conglomerate doesn’t always even want to.
“In many situations, the platforms are under pressure,” said Raman Jit Singh Chima, policy director at Access Now. “Tech companies are being directly sent takedown orders, user data requests. The danger of that is that companies will potentially be overcomplying or responding far too quickly to government demands when they are able to push back on those requests,” he said.
Elections are often a critical moment for oppressive behavior from governments — Uganda, Chad, and Vietnam have specifically targeted citizens — and candidates — during election time. Facebook announced just last Thursday that it had taken down nine Facebook pages and six Facebook accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior in Bangladesh. These pages, which Facebook believes were linked to people associated with the Bangladesh government, were “designed to look like independent news outlets and posted pro-government and anti-opposition content.” The sites masqueraded as news outlets, including fake BBC Bengali, BDSNews24, and Bangla Tribune and news pages with photoshopped blue checkmarks, according to the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Still, the imminent election in Bangladesh doesn’t bode well for anyone who might wish to express dissent. In October, a digital security bill that regulates some types of controversial speech was passed in the country, signaling to companies that as the regulatory environment tightens, they too could become targets.
More restrictive regulation is part of a greater trend around the world, said Naman M. Aggarwal, Asia policy associate at Access Now. Some countries, like Brazil and India, have passed “fake news” laws. (A similar law was proposed in Malaysia, but it was blocked in the Senate.) These types of laws are frequently followed by content takedowns. (In Bangladesh, the government warned broadcasters not to air footage that could create panic or disorder, essentially halting news programming on the protests.)
Other governments in the Middle East and North Africa — such as Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain — clamp down on free expression on social media under the threat of fines or prison time. And countries like Vietnam have passed laws requiring social media companies to localize their storage and have a presence in the country — typically an indication of greater content regulation and pressure on the companies from local governments. In India, WhatsApp and other financial tech services were told to open offices in the country.
And crackdowns on posts about protests on social media come hand-in-hand with government requests for data. Facebook’s biannual transparency report provides detail on the percentage of government requests the company complies within each country, but most people don’t know until long after the fact. Between January and June, the company received 134 emergency requests and 18 legal processes from Bangladeshi authorities for 205 users or accounts. Facebook turned over at least some data in 61 percent of emergency requests and 28 percent of legal processes.
Facebook said in a statement that it “believes people deserve to have a voice, and that everyone has the right to express themselves in a safe environment,” and that it handles requests for user data “extremely carefully.'”
The company pointed to its Facebook for Journalists resources and said it is “saddened by governments using broad and vague regulation or other practices to silence, criminalize or imprison journalists, activists, and others who speak out against them,” but the company said it also helps journalists, activists, and other people around the world to “tell their stories in more innovative ways, reach global audiences, and connect directly with people.”
But there are policies that Facebook could enact that would help people in these vulnerable positions, like allowing users to post anonymously.
“Facebook’s real names policy doesn’t exactly protect anonymity, and has created issues for people in countries like Vietnam,” said Aggarwal. “If platforms provide leeway, or enough space for anonymous posting, and anonymous interactions, that is really helpful to people on ground.”
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 12: A visitor uses a mobile phone in front of the Facebook logo at the #CDUdigital conference on September 12, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
A German court found the policy illegal under its decade-old privacy law in February. Facebook said it plans to appeal the decision.
“I’m not sure if Facebook even has an effective strategy or understanding of strategy in the long term,’ said Sean O’Brien, lead researcher at Yale Privacy Lab. “In some cases, Facebook is taking a very proactive role… but in other cases, it won’t.” In any case, these decisions require a nuanced understanding of the population, culture, and political spectrum in various regions — something it’s not clear Facebook has.
Facebook isn’t responsible for government decisions to clamp down on free expression. But the question remains: How can companies stop assisting authoritarian governments, inadvertently or otherwise?
“If Facebook knows about this kind of repression, they should probably have… some sort of mechanism to at the very least heavily try to convince people not to post things publicly that they think they could get in trouble for,” said O’Brien. “It would have a chilling effect on speech, of course, which is a whole other issue, but at least it would allow people to make that decision for themselves.”
This could be an opt-in feature, but O’Brien acknowledges that it could create legal liabilities for Facebook, leading the social media giant to create lists of “dangerous speech” or profiles on “dissidents,” and could theoretically shut them down or report them to the police. Still, Facebook could consider rolling a “speech alert” feature to an entire city or country if that area becomes volatile politically and dangerous for speech, he said.
O’Brien says that social media companies could consider responding to situations where a person is being detained illegally and potentially coerced into giving their passwords in a way that could protect them, perhaps by triggering a temporary account reset or freeze to prevent anyone from accessing the account without proper legal process. Some actions that might trigger the reset or freeze could be news about an individual’s arrest — if Facebook is alerted to it, contact from the authorities, or contact from friends and loved ones, as evaluated by humans. There could even be a “panic button” type trigger, like Guardian Project’s PanicKit, but for Facebook — allowing users to wipe or freeze their own accounts or posts tagged preemptively with a codeword only the owner knows.
“One of the issues with computer interfaces is that when people log into a site, they get a false sense of privacy even when the things they’re posting in that site are widely available to the public,” said O’Brien. Case in point: this year, women anonymously shared their experiences of abusive coworkers in a shared Google Doc — the so-called “Shitty Media Men” list, likely without realizing that a lawsuit could unmask them. That’s exactly what is happening.
Instead, activists and journalists often need to tap into resources and gain assistance from groups like Access Now, which runs a digital security helpline, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. These organizations can provide personal advice tailored to their specific country and situation. They can access Facebook over the Tor anonymity network. Then can use VPNs, and end-to-end encrypted messaging tools, and non-phone-based two-factor authentication methods. But many may not realize what the threat is until it’s too late.
The violent crackdown on free speech in Bangladesh accompanied government-imposed Internet restrictions, including the throttling of Internet access around the country. Users at home with a broadband connection did not feel the effects of this, but “it was the students on the streets who couldn’t go live or publish any photos of what was going on,” the Dhaka resident said.
Elections will take place in Bangladesh on December 30.
In the few months leading up to the election, Access Now says it’s noticed an increase in Bangladeshi residents expressing concern that their data has been compromised and seeking assistance from the Digital Security hotline.
Other rights groups have also found an uptick in malicious activity.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in an email that the organization is “extremely concerned about the ongoing crackdown on the political opposition and on freedom of expression, which has created a climate of fear ahead of national elections.”
Ganguly cited politically motivated cases against thousands of opposition supporters, many of which have been arrested, as well as candidates that have been attacked.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement about the situation, warning that the Rapid Action Battalion, a “paramilitary force implicated in serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances,” and has been “tasked with monitoring social media for ‘anti-state propaganda, rumors, fake news, and provocations.'” This is in addition to a nine-member monitoring cell and around 100 police teams dedicated to quashing so-called “rumors” on social media, amid the looming threat of news website shutdowns.
“The security forces continue to arrest people for any criticism of the government, including on social media,” Ganguly said. “We hope that the international community will urge the Awami League government to create conditions that will uphold the rights of all Bangladeshis to participate in a free and fair vote.”
from iraidajzsmmwtv https://tcrn.ch/2QL2upf via IFTTT
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Text
Facebook is not equipped to stop the spread of authoritarianism
After the driver of a speeding bus ran over and killed two college students in Dhaka in July, student protesters took to the streets. They forced the ordinarily disorganized local traffic to drive in strict lanes and stopped vehicles to inspect license and registration papers. They even halted the vehicle of the Chief of Bangladesh Police Bureau of Investigation and found that his license was expired. And they posted videos and information about the protests on Facebook.
The fatal road accident that led to these protests was hardly an isolated incident. Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, which was ranked the second least livable city in the world in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 global liveability index, scored 26.8 out of 100 in the infrastructure category included in the rating. But the regional government chose to stifle the highway safety protests anyway. It went so far as raids of residential areas adjacent to universities to check social media activity, leading to the arrest of 20 students. Although there were many images of Bangladesh Chhatra League, or BCL men, committing acts of violence on students, none of them were arrested. (The BCL is the student wing of the ruling Awami League, one of the major political parties of Bangladesh.)
Students were forced to log into their Facebook profiles and were arrested or beaten for their posts, photographs, and videos. In one instance, BCL men called three students into the dorm’s guestroom, quizzed them over Facebook posts, beat them, and then handed them over to police. They were reportedly tortured in custody.
A pregnant school teacher was arrested and jailed for just over two weeks for “spreading rumors” due to sharing a Facebook post about student protests. A photographer and social justice activist spent more than 100 days in jail for describing police violence during these protests; he told reporters he was beaten in custody. And a university professor was jailed for 37 days for his Facebook posts.
A Dhaka resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear for their safety said that the crackdown on social media posts essentially silenced student protesters, many of which removed photos, videos, and status updates about the protests from their profiles entirely. While the person thought that students were continuing to be arrested, they said, “nobody is talking about it anymore — at least in my network — because everyone kind of ‘got the memo’ if you know what I mean.”
This isn’t the first time Bangladeshi citizens have been arrested for Facebook posts. As just one example, in April 2017, a rubber plantation worker in southern Bangladesh was arrested and detained for three months for liking and sharing a Facebook post that criticized the prime minister’s visit to India, according to Human Rights Watch.
Bangladesh is far from alone. Government harassment to silence dissent on social media has occurred across the region and in other regions as well — and it often comes hand-in-hand with governments filing takedown requests with Facebook and requesting data on users.
Facebook has removed posts critical of the prime minister in Cambodia and reportedly “agreed to coordinate in the monitoring and removal of content” in Vietnam. Facebook was criticized for not stopping the repression of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, where military personnel created fake accounts to spread propaganda which human rights groups say fueled violence and forced displacement. Facebook has since undertaken a human rights impact assessment in Myanmar, and it has also taken down coordinated inauthentic accounts in the country.
UNITED STATES – APRIL 10: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing on “Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data”on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Protesters scrubbing Facebook data for fears of repercussions isn’t uncommon. Over and over again, authoritarian-leaning regimes have utilized low-tech strategies to quell dissent. And aside from providing resources related to online privacy and security, Facebook still has little in place to protect its most vulnerable users from these pernicious efforts. As various countries pass laws calling for a local presence and increased regulation, it is possible that the social media conglomerate doesn’t always even want to.
“In many situations, the platforms are under pressure,” said Raman Jit Singh Chima, policy director at Access Now. “Tech companies are being directly sent takedown orders, user data requests. The danger of that is that companies will potentially be overcomplying or responding far too quickly to government demands when they are able to push back on those requests,” he said.
Elections are often a critical moment for oppressive behavior from governments — Uganda, Chad, and Vietnam have specifically targeted citizens — and candidates — during election time. Facebook announced just last Thursday that it had taken down nine Facebook pages and six Facebook accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior in Bangladesh. These pages, which Facebook believes were linked to people associated with the Bangladesh government, were “designed to look like independent news outlets and posted pro-government and anti-opposition content.” The sites masqueraded as news outlets, including fake BBC Bengali, BDSNews24, and Bangla Tribune and news pages with photoshopped blue checkmarks, according to the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Still, the imminent election in Bangladesh doesn’t bode well for anyone who might wish to express dissent. In October, a digital security bill that regulates some types of controversial speech was passed in the country, signaling to companies that as the regulatory environment tightens, they too could become targets.
More restrictive regulation is part of a greater trend around the world, said Naman M. Aggarwal, Asia policy associate at Access Now. Some countries, like Brazil and India, have passed “fake news” laws. (A similar law was proposed in Malaysia, but it was blocked in the Senate.) These types of laws are frequently followed by content takedowns. (In Bangladesh, the government warned broadcasters not to air footage that could create panic or disorder, essentially halting news programming on the protests.)
Other governments in the Middle East and North Africa — such as Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain — clamp down on free expression on social media under the threat of fines or prison time. And countries like Vietnam have passed laws requiring social media companies to localize their storage and have a presence in the country — typically an indication of greater content regulation and pressure on the companies from local governments. In India, WhatsApp and other financial tech services were told to open offices in the country.
And crackdowns on posts about protests on social media come hand-in-hand with government requests for data. Facebook’s biannual transparency report provides detail on the percentage of government requests the company complies within each country, but most people don’t know until long after the fact. Between January and June, the company received 134 emergency requests and 18 legal processes from Bangladeshi authorities for 205 users or accounts. Facebook turned over at least some data in 61 percent of emergency requests and 28 percent of legal processes.
Facebook said in a statement that it “believes people deserve to have a voice, and that everyone has the right to express themselves in a safe environment,” and that it handles requests for user data “extremely carefully.'”
The company pointed to its Facebook for Journalists resources and said it is “saddened by governments using broad and vague regulation or other practices to silence, criminalize or imprison journalists, activists, and others who speak out against them,” but the company said it also helps journalists, activists, and other people around the world to “tell their stories in more innovative ways, reach global audiences, and connect directly with people.”
But there are policies that Facebook could enact that would help people in these vulnerable positions, like allowing users to post anonymously.
“Facebook’s real names policy doesn’t exactly protect anonymity, and has created issues for people in countries like Vietnam,” said Aggarwal. “If platforms provide leeway, or enough space for anonymous posting, and anonymous interactions, that is really helpful to people on ground.”
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 12: A visitor uses a mobile phone in front of the Facebook logo at the #CDUdigital conference on September 12, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
A German court found the policy illegal under its decade-old privacy law in February. Facebook said it plans to appeal the decision.
“I’m not sure if Facebook even has an effective strategy or understanding of strategy in the long term,’ said Sean O’Brien, lead researcher at Yale Privacy Lab. “In some cases, Facebook is taking a very proactive role… but in other cases, it won’t.” In any case, these decisions require a nuanced understanding of the population, culture, and political spectrum in various regions — something it’s not clear Facebook has.
Facebook isn’t responsible for government decisions to clamp down on free expression. But the question remains: How can companies stop assisting authoritarian governments, inadvertently or otherwise?
“If Facebook knows about this kind of repression, they should probably have… some sort of mechanism to at the very least heavily try to convince people not to post things publicly that they think they could get in trouble for,” said O’Brien. “It would have a chilling effect on speech, of course, which is a whole other issue, but at least it would allow people to make that decision for themselves.”
This could be an opt-in feature, but O’Brien acknowledges that it could create legal liabilities for Facebook, leading the social media giant to create lists of “dangerous speech” or profiles on “dissidents,” and could theoretically shut them down or report them to the police. Still, Facebook could consider rolling a “speech alert” feature to an entire city or country if that area becomes volatile politically and dangerous for speech, he said.
O’Brien says that social media companies could consider responding to situations where a person is being detained illegally and potentially coerced into giving their passwords in a way that could protect them, perhaps by triggering a temporary account reset or freeze to prevent anyone from accessing the account without proper legal process. Some actions that might trigger the reset or freeze could be news about an individual’s arrest — if Facebook is alerted to it, contact from the authorities, or contact from friends and loved ones, as evaluated by humans. There could even be a “panic button” type trigger, like Guardian Project’s PanicKit, but for Facebook — allowing users to wipe or freeze their own accounts or posts tagged preemptively with a codeword only the owner knows.
“One of the issues with computer interfaces is that when people log into a site, they get a false sense of privacy even when the things they’re posting in that site are widely available to the public,” said O’Brien. Case in point: this year, women anonymously shared their experiences of abusive coworkers in a shared Google Doc — the so-called “Shitty Media Men” list, likely without realizing that a lawsuit could unmask them. That’s exactly what is happening.
Instead, activists and journalists often need to tap into resources and gain assistance from groups like Access Now, which runs a digital security helpline, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. These organizations can provide personal advice tailored to their specific country and situation. They can access Facebook over the Tor anonymity network. Then can use VPNs, and end-to-end encrypted messaging tools, and non-phone-based two-factor authentication methods. But many may not realize what the threat is until it’s too late.
The violent crackdown on free speech in Bangladesh accompanied government-imposed Internet restrictions, including the throttling of Internet access around the country. Users at home with a broadband connection did not feel the effects of this, but “it was the students on the streets who couldn’t go live or publish any photos of what was going on,” the Dhaka resident said.
Elections will take place in Bangladesh on December 30.
In the few months leading up to the election, Access Now says it’s noticed an increase in Bangladeshi residents expressing concern that their data has been compromised and seeking assistance from the Digital Security hotline.
Other rights groups have also found an uptick in malicious activity.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in an email that the organization is “extremely concerned about the ongoing crackdown on the political opposition and on freedom of expression, which has created a climate of fear ahead of national elections.”
Ganguly cited politically motivated cases against thousands of opposition supporters, many of which have been arrested, as well as candidates that have been attacked.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement about the situation, warning that the Rapid Action Battalion, a “paramilitary force implicated in serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances,” and has been “tasked with monitoring social media for ‘anti-state propaganda, rumors, fake news, and provocations.'” This is in addition to a nine-member monitoring cell and around 100 police teams dedicated to quashing so-called “rumors” on social media, amid the looming threat of news website shutdowns.
“The security forces continue to arrest people for any criticism of the government, including on social media,” Ganguly said. “We hope that the international community will urge the Awami League government to create conditions that will uphold the rights of all Bangladeshis to participate in a free and fair vote.”
Facebook is not equipped to stop the spread of authoritarianism published first on https://timloewe.tumblr.com/
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After the driver of a speeding bus ran over and killed two college students in Dhaka in July, student protesters took to the streets. They forced the ordinarily disorganized local traffic to drive in strict lanes and stopped vehicles to inspect license and registration papers. They even halted the vehicle of the Chief of Bangladesh Police Bureau of Investigation and found that his license was expired. And they posted videos and information about the protests on Facebook.
The fatal road accident that led to these protests was hardly an isolated incident. Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, which was ranked the second least livable city in the world in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 global liveability index, scored 26.8 out of 100 in the infrastructure category included in the rating. But the regional government chose to stifle the highway safety protests anyway. It went so far as raids of residential areas adjacent to universities to check social media activity, leading to the arrest of 20 students. Although there were many images of Bangladesh Chhatra League, or BCL men, committing acts of violence on students, none of them were arrested. (The BCL is the student wing of the ruling Awami League, one of the major political parties of Bangladesh.)
Students were forced to log into their Facebook profiles and were arrested or beaten for their posts, photographs, and videos. In one instance, BCL men called three students into the dorm’s guestroom, quizzed them over Facebook posts, beat them, and then handed them over to police. They were reportedly tortured in custody.
A pregnant school teacher was arrested and jailed for just over two weeks for “spreading rumors” due to sharing a Facebook post about student protests. A photographer and social justice activist spent more than 100 days in jail for describing police violence during these protests; he told reporters he was beaten in custody. And a university professor was jailed for 37 days for his Facebook posts.
A Dhaka resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear for their safety said that the crackdown on social media posts essentially silenced student protesters, many of which removed photos, videos, and status updates about the protests from their profiles entirely. While the person thought that students were continuing to be arrested, they said, “nobody is talking about it anymore — at least in my network — because everyone kind of ‘got the memo’ if you know what I mean.”
This isn’t the first time Bangladeshi citizens have been arrested for Facebook posts. As just one example, in April 2017, a rubber plantation worker in southern Bangladesh was arrested and detained for three months for liking and sharing a Facebook post that criticized the prime minister’s visit to India, according to Human Rights Watch.
Bangladesh is far from alone. Government harassment to silence dissent on social media has occurred across the region and in other regions as well — and it often comes hand-in-hand with governments filing takedown requests with Facebook and requesting data on users.
Facebook has removed posts critical of the prime minister in Cambodia and reportedly “agreed to coordinate in the monitoring and removal of content” in Vietnam. Facebook was criticized for not stopping the repression of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, where military personnel created fake accounts to spread propaganda which human rights groups say fueled violence and forced displacement. Facebook has since undertaken a human rights impact assessment in Myanmar, and it has also taken down coordinated inauthentic accounts in the country.
UNITED STATES – APRIL 10: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing on “Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data”on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Protesters scrubbing Facebook data for fears of repercussions isn’t uncommon. Over and over again, authoritarian-leaning regimes have utilized low-tech strategies to quell dissent. And aside from providing resources related to online privacy and security, Facebook still has little in place to protect its most vulnerable users from these pernicious efforts. As various countries pass laws calling for a local presence and increased regulation, it is possible that the social media conglomerate doesn’t always even want to.
“In many situations, the platforms are under pressure,” said Raman Jit Singh Chima, policy director at Access Now. “Tech companies are being directly sent takedown orders, user data requests. The danger of that is that companies will potentially be overcomplying or responding far too quickly to government demands when they are able to push back on those requests,” he said.
Elections are often a critical moment for oppressive behavior from governments — Uganda, Chad, and Vietnam have specifically targeted citizens — and candidates — during election time. Facebook announced just last Thursday that it had taken down nine Facebook pages and six Facebook accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior in Bangladesh. These pages, which Facebook believes were linked to people associated with the Bangladesh government, were “designed to look like independent news outlets and posted pro-government and anti-opposition content.” The sites masqueraded as news outlets, including fake BBC Bengali, BDSNews24, and Bangla Tribune and news pages with photoshopped blue checkmarks, according to the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Still, the imminent election in Bangladesh doesn’t bode well for anyone who might wish to express dissent. In October, a digital security bill that regulates some types of controversial speech was passed in the country, signaling to companies that as the regulatory environment tightens, they too could become targets.
More restrictive regulation is part of a greater trend around the world, said Naman M. Aggarwal, Asia policy associate at Access Now. Some countries, like Brazil and India, have passed “fake news” laws. (A similar law was proposed in Malaysia, but it was blocked in the Senate.) These types of laws are frequently followed by content takedowns. (In Bangladesh, the government warned broadcasters not to air footage that could create panic or disorder, essentially halting news programming on the protests.)
Other governments in the Middle East and North Africa — such as Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain — clamp down on free expression on social media under the threat of fines or prison time. And countries like Vietnam have passed laws requiring social media companies to localize their storage and have a presence in the country — typically an indication of greater content regulation and pressure on the companies from local governments. In India, WhatsApp and other financial tech services were told to open offices in the country.
And crackdowns on posts about protests on social media come hand-in-hand with government requests for data. Facebook’s biannual transparency report provides detail on the percentage of government requests the company complies within each country, but most people don’t know until long after the fact. Between January and June, the company received 134 emergency requests and 18 legal processes from Bangladeshi authorities for 205 users or accounts. Facebook turned over at least some data in 61 percent of emergency requests and 28 percent of legal processes.
Facebook said in a statement that it “believes people deserve to have a voice, and that everyone has the right to express themselves in a safe environment,” and that it handles requests for user data “extremely carefully.'”
The company pointed to its Facebook for Journalists resources and said it is “saddened by governments using broad and vague regulation or other practices to silence, criminalize or imprison journalists, activists, and others who speak out against them,” but the company said it also helps journalists, activists, and other people around the world to “tell their stories in more innovative ways, reach global audiences, and connect directly with people.”
But there are policies that Facebook could enact that would help people in these vulnerable positions, like allowing users to post anonymously.
“Facebook’s real names policy doesn’t exactly protect anonymity, and has created issues for people in countries like Vietnam,” said Aggarwal. “If platforms provide leeway, or enough space for anonymous posting, and anonymous interactions, that is really helpful to people on ground.”
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 12: A visitor uses a mobile phone in front of the Facebook logo at the #CDUdigital conference on September 12, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
A German court found the policy illegal under its decade-old privacy law in February. Facebook said it plans to appeal the decision.
“I’m not sure if Facebook even has an effective strategy or understanding of strategy in the long term,’ said Sean O’Brien, lead researcher at Yale Privacy Lab. “In some cases, Facebook is taking a very proactive role… but in other cases, it won’t.” In any case, these decisions require a nuanced understanding of the population, culture, and political spectrum in various regions — something it’s not clear Facebook has.
Facebook isn’t responsible for government decisions to clamp down on free expression. But the question remains: How can companies stop assisting authoritarian governments, inadvertently or otherwise?
“If Facebook knows about this kind of repression, they should probably have… some sort of mechanism to at the very least heavily try to convince people not to post things publicly that they think they could get in trouble for,” said O’Brien. “It would have a chilling effect on speech, of course, which is a whole other issue, but at least it would allow people to make that decision for themselves.”
This could be an opt-in feature, but O’Brien acknowledges that it could create legal liabilities for Facebook, leading the social media giant to create lists of “dangerous speech” or profiles on “dissidents,” and could theoretically shut them down or report them to the police. Still, Facebook could consider rolling a “speech alert” feature to an entire city or country if that area becomes volatile politically and dangerous for speech, he said.
O’Brien says that social media companies could consider responding to situations where a person is being detained illegally and potentially coerced into giving their passwords in a way that could protect them, perhaps by triggering a temporary account reset or freeze to prevent anyone from accessing the account without proper legal process. Some actions that might trigger the reset or freeze could be news about an individual’s arrest — if Facebook is alerted to it, contact from the authorities, or contact from friends and loved ones, as evaluated by humans. There could even be a “panic button” type trigger, like Guardian Project’s PanicKit, but for Facebook — allowing users to wipe or freeze their own accounts or posts tagged preemptively with a codeword only the owner knows.
“One of the issues with computer interfaces is that when people log into a site, they get a false sense of privacy even when the things they’re posting in that site are widely available to the public,” said O’Brien. Case in point: this year, women anonymously shared their experiences of abusive coworkers in a shared Google Doc — the so-called “Shitty Media Men” list, likely without realizing that a lawsuit could unmask them. That’s exactly what is happening.
Instead, activists and journalists often need to tap into resources and gain assistance from groups like Access Now, which runs a digital security helpline, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. These organizations can provide personal advice tailored to their specific country and situation. They can access Facebook over the Tor anonymity network. Then can use VPNs, and end-to-end encrypted messaging tools, and non-phone-based two-factor authentication methods. But many may not realize what the threat is until it’s too late.
The violent crackdown on free speech in Bangladesh accompanied government-imposed Internet restrictions, including the throttling of Internet access around the country. Users at home with a broadband connection did not feel the effects of this, but “it was the students on the streets who couldn’t go live or publish any photos of what was going on,” the Dhaka resident said.
Elections will take place in Bangladesh on December 30.
In the few months leading up to the election, Access Now says it’s noticed an increase in Bangladeshi residents expressing concern that their data has been compromised and seeking assistance from the Digital Security hotline.
Other rights groups have also found an uptick in malicious activity.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in an email that the organization is “extremely concerned about the ongoing crackdown on the political opposition and on freedom of expression, which has created a climate of fear ahead of national elections.”
Ganguly cited politically motivated cases against thousands of opposition supporters, many of which have been arrested, as well as candidates that have been attacked.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement about the situation, warning that the Rapid Action Battalion, a “paramilitary force implicated in serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances,” and has been “tasked with monitoring social media for ‘anti-state propaganda, rumors, fake news, and provocations.'” This is in addition to a nine-member monitoring cell and around 100 police teams dedicated to quashing so-called “rumors” on social media, amid the looming threat of news website shutdowns.
“The security forces continue to arrest people for any criticism of the government, including on social media,” Ganguly said. “We hope that the international community will urge the Awami League government to create conditions that will uphold the rights of all Bangladeshis to participate in a free and fair vote.”
from Social – TechCrunch https://tcrn.ch/2QL2upf Original Content From: https://techcrunch.com
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After the driver of a speeding bus ran over and killed two college students in Dhaka in July, student protesters took to the streets. They forced the ordinarily disorganized local traffic to drive in strict lanes and stopped vehicles to inspect license and registration papers. They even halted the vehicle of the Chief of Bangladesh Police Bureau of Investigation and found that his license was expired. And they posted videos and information about the protests on Facebook.
The fatal road accident that led to these protests was hardly an isolated incident. Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, which was ranked the second least livable city in the world in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 global liveability index, scored 26.8 out of 100 in the infrastructure category included in the rating. But the regional government chose to stifle the highway safety protests anyway. It went so far as raids of residential areas adjacent to universities to check social media activity, leading to the arrest of 20 students. Although there were many images of Bangladesh Chhatra League, or BCL men, committing acts of violence on students, none of them were arrested. (The BCL is the student wing of the ruling Awami League, one of the major political parties of Bangladesh.)
Students were forced to log into their Facebook profiles and were arrested or beaten for their posts, photographs, and videos. In one instance, BCL men called three students into the dorm’s guestroom, quizzed them over Facebook posts, beat them, and then handed them over to police. They were reportedly tortured in custody.
A pregnant school teacher was arrested and jailed for just over two weeks for “spreading rumors” due to sharing a Facebook post about student protests. A photographer and social justice activist spent more than 100 days in jail for describing police violence during these protests; he told reporters he was beaten in custody. And a university professor was jailed for 37 days for his Facebook posts.
A Dhaka resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear for their safety said that the crackdown on social media posts essentially silenced student protesters, many of which removed photos, videos, and status updates about the protests from their profiles entirely. While the person thought that students were continuing to be arrested, they said, “nobody is talking about it anymore — at least in my network — because everyone kind of ‘got the memo’ if you know what I mean.”
This isn’t the first time Bangladeshi citizens have been arrested for Facebook posts. As just one example, in April 2017, a rubber plantation worker in southern Bangladesh was arrested and detained for three months for liking and sharing a Facebook post that criticized the prime minister’s visit to India, according to Human Rights Watch.
Bangladesh is far from alone. Government harassment to silence dissent on social media has occurred across the region and in other regions as well — and it often comes hand-in-hand with governments filing takedown requests with Facebook and requesting data on users.
Facebook has removed posts critical of the prime minister in Cambodia and reportedly “agreed to coordinate in the monitoring and removal of content” in Vietnam. Facebook was criticized for not stopping the repression of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, where military personnel created fake accounts to spread propaganda which human rights groups say fueled violence and forced displacement. Facebook has since undertaken a human rights impact assessment in Myanmar, and it has also taken down coordinated inauthentic accounts in the country.
UNITED STATES – APRIL 10: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee joint hearing on “Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data”on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Protesters scrubbing Facebook data for fears of repercussions isn’t uncommon. Over and over again, authoritarian-leaning regimes have utilized low-tech strategies to quell dissent. And aside from providing resources related to online privacy and security, Facebook still has little in place to protect its most vulnerable users from these pernicious efforts. As various countries pass laws calling for a local presence and increased regulation, it is possible that the social media conglomerate doesn’t always even want to.
“In many situations, the platforms are under pressure,” said Raman Jit Singh Chima, policy director at Access Now. “Tech companies are being directly sent takedown orders, user data requests. The danger of that is that companies will potentially be overcomplying or responding far too quickly to government demands when they are able to push back on those requests,” he said.
Elections are often a critical moment for oppressive behavior from governments — Uganda, Chad, and Vietnam have specifically targeted citizens — and candidates — during election time. Facebook announced just last Thursday that it had taken down nine Facebook pages and six Facebook accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior in Bangladesh. These pages, which Facebook believes were linked to people associated with the Bangladesh government, were “designed to look like independent news outlets and posted pro-government and anti-opposition content.” The sites masqueraded as news outlets, including fake BBC Bengali, BDSNews24, and Bangla Tribune and news pages with photoshopped blue checkmarks, according to the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Still, the imminent election in Bangladesh doesn’t bode well for anyone who might wish to express dissent. In October, a digital security bill that regulates some types of controversial speech was passed in the country, signaling to companies that as the regulatory environment tightens, they too could become targets.
More restrictive regulation is part of a greater trend around the world, said Naman M. Aggarwal, Asia policy associate at Access Now. Some countries, like Brazil and India, have passed “fake news” laws. (A similar law was proposed in Malaysia, but it was blocked in the Senate.) These types of laws are frequently followed by content takedowns. (In Bangladesh, the government warned broadcasters not to air footage that could create panic or disorder, essentially halting news programming on the protests.)
Other governments in the Middle East and North Africa — such as Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain — clamp down on free expression on social media under the threat of fines or prison time. And countries like Vietnam have passed laws requiring social media companies to localize their storage and have a presence in the country — typically an indication of greater content regulation and pressure on the companies from local governments. In India, WhatsApp and other financial tech services were told to open offices in the country.
And crackdowns on posts about protests on social media come hand-in-hand with government requests for data. Facebook’s biannual transparency report provides detail on the percentage of government requests the company complies within each country, but most people don’t know until long after the fact. Between January and June, the company received 134 emergency requests and 18 legal processes from Bangladeshi authorities for 205 users or accounts. Facebook turned over at least some data in 61 percent of emergency requests and 28 percent of legal processes.
Facebook said in a statement that it “believes people deserve to have a voice, and that everyone has the right to express themselves in a safe environment,” and that it handles requests for user data “extremely carefully.'”
The company pointed to its Facebook for Journalists resources and said it is “saddened by governments using broad and vague regulation or other practices to silence, criminalize or imprison journalists, activists, and others who speak out against them,” but the company said it also helps journalists, activists, and other people around the world to “tell their stories in more innovative ways, reach global audiences, and connect directly with people.”
But there are policies that Facebook could enact that would help people in these vulnerable positions, like allowing users to post anonymously.
“Facebook’s real names policy doesn’t exactly protect anonymity, and has created issues for people in countries like Vietnam,” said Aggarwal. “If platforms provide leeway, or enough space for anonymous posting, and anonymous interactions, that is really helpful to people on ground.”
BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 12: A visitor uses a mobile phone in front of the Facebook logo at the #CDUdigital conference on September 12, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
A German court found the policy illegal under its decade-old privacy law in February. Facebook said it plans to appeal the decision.
“I’m not sure if Facebook even has an effective strategy or understanding of strategy in the long term,’ said Sean O’Brien, lead researcher at Yale Privacy Lab. “In some cases, Facebook is taking a very proactive role… but in other cases, it won’t.” In any case, these decisions require a nuanced understanding of the population, culture, and political spectrum in various regions — something it’s not clear Facebook has.
Facebook isn’t responsible for government decisions to clamp down on free expression. But the question remains: How can companies stop assisting authoritarian governments, inadvertently or otherwise?
“If Facebook knows about this kind of repression, they should probably have… some sort of mechanism to at the very least heavily try to convince people not to post things publicly that they think they could get in trouble for,” said O’Brien. “It would have a chilling effect on speech, of course, which is a whole other issue, but at least it would allow people to make that decision for themselves.”
This could be an opt-in feature, but O’Brien acknowledges that it could create legal liabilities for Facebook, leading the social media giant to create lists of “dangerous speech” or profiles on “dissidents,” and could theoretically shut them down or report them to the police. Still, Facebook could consider rolling a “speech alert” feature to an entire city or country if that area becomes volatile politically and dangerous for speech, he said.
O’Brien says that social media companies could consider responding to situations where a person is being detained illegally and potentially coerced into giving their passwords in a way that could protect them, perhaps by triggering a temporary account reset or freeze to prevent anyone from accessing the account without proper legal process. Some actions that might trigger the reset or freeze could be news about an individual’s arrest — if Facebook is alerted to it, contact from the authorities, or contact from friends and loved ones, as evaluated by humans. There could even be a “panic button” type trigger, like Guardian Project’s PanicKit, but for Facebook — allowing users to wipe or freeze their own accounts or posts tagged preemptively with a codeword only the owner knows.
“One of the issues with computer interfaces is that when people log into a site, they get a false sense of privacy even when the things they’re posting in that site are widely available to the public,” said O’Brien. Case in point: this year, women anonymously shared their experiences of abusive coworkers in a shared Google Doc — the so-called “Shitty Media Men” list, likely without realizing that a lawsuit could unmask them. That’s exactly what is happening.
Instead, activists and journalists often need to tap into resources and gain assistance from groups like Access Now, which runs a digital security helpline, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. These organizations can provide personal advice tailored to their specific country and situation. They can access Facebook over the Tor anonymity network. Then can use VPNs, and end-to-end encrypted messaging tools, and non-phone-based two-factor authentication methods. But many may not realize what the threat is until it’s too late.
The violent crackdown on free speech in Bangladesh accompanied government-imposed Internet restrictions, including the throttling of Internet access around the country. Users at home with a broadband connection did not feel the effects of this, but “it was the students on the streets who couldn’t go live or publish any photos of what was going on,” the Dhaka resident said.
Elections will take place in Bangladesh on December 30.
In the few months leading up to the election, Access Now says it’s noticed an increase in Bangladeshi residents expressing concern that their data has been compromised and seeking assistance from the Digital Security hotline.
Other rights groups have also found an uptick in malicious activity.
Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in an email that the organization is “extremely concerned about the ongoing crackdown on the political opposition and on freedom of expression, which has created a climate of fear ahead of national elections.”
Ganguly cited politically motivated cases against thousands of opposition supporters, many of which have been arrested, as well as candidates that have been attacked.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement about the situation, warning that the Rapid Action Battalion, a “paramilitary force implicated in serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances,” and has been “tasked with monitoring social media for ‘anti-state propaganda, rumors, fake news, and provocations.'” This is in addition to a nine-member monitoring cell and around 100 police teams dedicated to quashing so-called “rumors” on social media, amid the looming threat of news website shutdowns.
“The security forces continue to arrest people for any criticism of the government, including on social media,” Ganguly said. “We hope that the international community will urge the Awami League government to create conditions that will uphold the rights of all Bangladeshis to participate in a free and fair vote.”
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