Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa has denied allegations that the telecommunications company shared user data with police during the recent Gen Z protests.
Speaking during an interview with local media Ndegwa emphasized that the company only provides information to law enforcement when mandated by a court order.
Ndegwa acknowledged public fears regarding data privacy and assured users that Safaricom has robust mechanisms in place to protect customer data.
“There was a perception that potentially we (Safaricom) were giving out people’s information during protests. We’ve created an ecosystem that allows us to control what we have and we follow the Data Privacy Act of Kenya,” Ndegwa said.
“We would only release information if a court asks us to because there are many times where by law we would be required to release information,” the Safaricom CEO said.
Ndegwa noted that security agencies across the world have their own way of getting such information.
He further said that the nature of the work of security agencies does not allow them the time to wait for court orders.
“Security agencies don’t have to rely on us they have their own tools around the world. They have their own way of picking up information and certainly not from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)… Security agencies wouldn’t wait for court because most of their information is required on urgent basis,” he added.
His remarks follow claims during the protests that the leading telecommunications company was providing people’s data to the police.
The claims were as a result of arrests that were made of individuals believed to have been leading the protests.