Share your personal info? Not us!! Safaricom assures Kenyans

On Tuesday, Kenya’s largest mobile network operator Safaricom refuted claims from a section of Kenyans that it is illegally disclosing their personal information.

While responding to concerns from Kenyans in social media alleging the telco was aiding the abduction of some Kenyans due to their stance on Finance Bill 2024 by giving out sensitive information such as communications data and real-time locations, Safaricom says it is governed by law and does not in any way condone breach of data privacy.

“We respect our customers’ privacy and adhere strictly by the country’s data protection laws,” said the company in a statement

Safaricom says it does not share customer data unless compelled by a court order.

“On the current issue in discussion, we confirm that we have not received any court order requiring us to share customer information with any government agency,” the telco reiterated

Information collected by Safaricom from customers

Some of the information the mobile network operator collects from its clients include, their identity and SIM-card registration information, including their name, photograph, address, location, phone number, identity document type and number, date of birth, email address, age, gender, and mobile number portability records.

The telco also collects and stores data on customers’ credit or debit card information, information about their bank account numbers, and SWIFT codes or other banking information.

It also collects data on name, family details, age, and profiling information such as level of education, bank account status, income brackets, etc. collected as part of surveys conducted by the company and their agents on behalf of Safaricom.

The company also confirms that it keeps customers’ call data records such as phone numbers they call or send messages to (or receive calls and messages from), log of calls, messages or data sessions on the Safaricom network as well as their approximate location.