Safaricom PLC has issued a statement addressing concerns regarding data privacy and sharing of customer information.
This follows several allegations by the public that the telco has been sharing customer information with the government after recent protests witnessed in the country, where people online claim this led to arrests, kidnappings, and harassment of those involved.
Safaricom has denied the claims, saying it takes user privacy very seriously; hence, it adheres to the Kenyan laws to the latter and that they can only release customer data on the basis of a court order.
The telco giant has emphasized its strict adherence to Kenya’s data protection laws and assured customers that their personal information is safe and secure.
“We respect our customers’ privacy and adhere strictly by the country’s data protection laws. As such we do not share any customer data unless explicitly required of us via a court order,” the statement reads.
Safaricom has clarified that Call Data Records (CDRs) do not track real-time location or movements of customers.
The firm noted that these records are generated after a call is terminated or a message is sent or received, primarily for billing purposes.
To combat fraud, Safaricom said it has partnered with Neural Technologies, a global leader in fraud prevention and detection.
“This partnership has enabled the implementation of a robust Fraud Management System (FMS) across all business lines, including M-Pesa. Neural Technologies operates independently and does not have access to third-party data,” the telco said.
In recognition of its commitment to data privacy, Safaricom has recently been awarded the ISO 27701 Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) certification.
This prestigious certification underscores the company’s dedication to safeguarding customer information and maintaining the highest standards of privacy.
Safaricom has reiterated its commitment to transparency and honesty, assuring customers that it will continue to build and maintain trust through open and transparent communication.
The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Ibrahim Amin on Wednesday also denied the claims that the police are working with mobile service providers to spy on citizens.
He explained that they only rely on mobile service providers for a small portion of their investigations and that they always follow legal procedures to obtain information.
“On the issue of police conspiring with mobile service providers, we don’t do that completely. If we are interested in getting information from the service providers, we do so through lawful means. We go to the courts, swear affidavits, and serve that order to the service providers. It is only after we get the orders that we get the service providers to work with us.”
