Recent reports have raised concerns about Safaricom’s role in the abduction of individuals in Kenya.
Reports suggest that the company may be sharing customer data with security agencies, enabling these abductions.
This situation has led to questions about how Safaricom obtains individuals’ phone numbers and tracks them, especially those who have not shared their numbers publicly.
Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecommunications provider, collects customer information as part of its services.
This data includes call records, text messages, and location information, which are essential for billing and service delivery.
According to Safaricom’s Data Privacy Statement, the company is committed to protecting customer privacy and complies with data protection laws.
They assert that customer data is only shared with third parties when required by law, such as through a court order.
However, investigations have revealed that Kenyan security agencies have had extensive access to mobile phone customers’ sensitive data, including call records and location information.
This access has reportedly been used to track and apprehend suspected criminals, but it has also raised concerns about violations of privacy rights and potential misuse of data in abductions and extrajudicial killings.
One key aspect of this issue is the involvement of Neural Technologies, a British software company.
Reports indicate that Neural Technologies implemented a data management system within Safaricom’s infrastructure, allowing security services to access customer data in real-time.
This system includes predictive profiling tools that can map individuals’ movements and associations, raising further human rights concerns.
Safaricom has denied these allegations, stating that they respect customer privacy and adhere strictly to data protection laws.
The company asserts that they do not share customer data unless explicitly required via a court order.
They also claim that Call Data Records (CDRs) do not show live location and movements of customers but are generated after a call is terminated, primarily for billing purposes.
Despite these assurances, concerns persist about how individuals who have not shared their phone numbers publicly are being tracked.
The alleged unrestricted access by security agencies to Safaricom’s customer data suggests that individuals can be monitored without their consent or knowledge.
This situation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of data protection measures and the potential for abuse of surveillance capabilities.In response to these concerns, Kenyan lawmakers have initiated probes into Safaricom’s data management practices.
Senators have questioned whether the company shares subscriber data with government agencies without consent and have called for transparency regarding agreements with third-party companies like Neural Technologies.
They are also seeking to assess the company’s adherence to data protection laws and the safeguards in place to protect subscriber data from unauthorized access.
The situation underscores the need for robust data protection laws and strict enforcement to ensure that individuals’ privacy rights are upheld.
The ongoing investigations and public outcry emphasize the critical need for proper data protection measures and accountability to safeguard individuals’ rights.
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