Kenya’s leading mobile operator, Safaricom, has refuted claims of collaborating with government agencies to share customer information. The CEO, Peter Ndegwa, emphasized during a recent presentation that the reports suggesting data sharing were inaccurate. Safaricom serves millions of customers and has strict protocols in place to protect customer data.
Allegations surfaced indicating that security agencies in Kenya had real-time access to customer data, including call records and location information. However, Safaricom clarified that call data records (CDRs) do not contain live location data and are primarily used for billing purposes.
Furthermore, reports suggested a partnership between Safaricom and a British company to develop software allowing security agencies to track individuals through movement patterns. Safaricom clarified that the collaboration was for implementing a fraud detection tool, not for real-time data sharing.
It is essential for companies to adhere to data protection laws in Kenya, which require explicit consent from individuals before sharing personal data with third parties. Safaricom reiterated that they only share customer data when mandated by a court order.