Safaricom Breaks Silence on Sharing Customers’ Location to Police

Safaricom PLC has responded to claims that the telecommunication giant shares its customers’ private information to authorities involved in abduction and arrests.

In a statement on Thursday October 31, Safaricom stated that Call Data Record (CDR) does not show any live location and movements of customers

“Safaricom notes various conversations regarding data privacy and sharing of customer information with security agencies and other third parties and wishes to make the following statement,” read the statement in part.

“That 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.”

Safaricom Clarifies Sharing Customers’ Location to Police

 It added, “That for information purposes a customer’s Call Data Record (CDR) does not show any live location and movements of customers but are generated after a call is terminated and for text messages once they are sent or received and this is for purposes of billing only.”

Additionally, the Telco giant stated that in July 2012, it onboarded Neural Technologies to implement a Fraud Management System (FMS) on all its business lines, including their mobile money system.

“Neural Technologies is a global brand operating in over 30 countries providing support to telcos and utility companies to prevent and detect fraud with no third-party access,” it added.

Also Read: Safaricom Wins British Data Privacy Award

Safaricom also mentioned that they were recently awarded an ISO 27701 Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) certificate by the British Standards Institute (BSI) after a vigorous audit of our adherence to the data privacy laws and policies.

“This is the highest certification an organisation can attain in management of privacy information systems, as a data controller or processor, a testament to our commitment to preserve our customer privacy and provide a worry-free experience on our network,” said the telco company.

At the same time, Safaricom stated that it would like to reassure its customers that they have always been transparent and honest in how they engage with our stakeholders.

“We will continue to do so in order to maintain the trust that we have built over the years,” Safaricom concluded.

The response comes after Kenyans on social media called out the telecommunication giant claiming that it aids detectives in tracking and capturing suspecting criminals.

This occurred amid a rise in abductions and extrajudicial killings, particularly following the onset of anti-finance bill protests in June this year.

Also Read: Safaricom CEO Clarifies Internet Shutdown During Gen Z Protests & Role in SHA

Senator Issues Demands on Data Privacy

Migori Senator Eddy Ogetch Gicheru had also wrote to the Speaker requesting for a statement on alleged breach of confidential subscriber information by Safaricom.

Senator Eddy asked the committee on Information Communication and Technology to determine whether Kenyans have raised concerns about data breaches over the past four years. 

“Confirm whether Safaricom has a data-sharing agreement with the government, including the date of its formulation and execution and whether subscribers were informed and consented to this agreement and provide a copy of the agreement,” read his request in part.

“Establish whether it is mandatory for Safaricom to collect and store subscriber data such as location and to monitor calls to provide its services and clarify why similar practices are not required for other telecom providers.”

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