Data breach alert after a twitter user share and exposed that Absa Kenya, formally Barclays Bank Of Kenya cards have IDEMIA, OT-Morpho’s technology accused of multiple data breach.
@AbsaKenya, impressed by your new card features, picked mine at Yaya branch.
One thing that has really let me down is the card has IDEMIA inscriptions at the back top left.
IDEMIA previously OT Morpho, has plenty of data breach legal issues @JerotichSeii @DavidNdii @surambaya— Emm K (@EmmBrooklyn) February 26, 2020
The bank officially commenced trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) as ABSA Bank Kenya Plc, after the bourse temporarily suspended the trading of the lender’s shares to allow the settlement of outstanding obligations as well as a change of its trading ticker code, as the lender finalized its brand transition.
Another popular Twitter user affirmed that indeed the Bank has been working with the state to embarrass sober and people’s centred campaigns.
Thanks for the alert, Emm! Yes, @surambaya – Barclays will degenerate into ever more archaic practices. Tena Barclays works with the state & froze our #SwitchOffKPLC lawyer's acct. So, with their IDEMIA connect, it's ta ta from me to ABSA & hello, Stanchart!
— #LindaKatiba (@JerotichSeii) February 27, 2020
TAP AND GO OR TAP AND VOTE? Absa have hired a banned firm to work on their new technologies.
Even though our government has not gone fully digital, the few digital technologies rolled out have been accused of multiple election rigging crimes. Is this another one?
Her vote has already been counted for 2022 and 2027.
Ndaaaaaaniiiiii 😂😂😂— Sura Mbaya (@surambaya) February 26, 2020
The same French firm hired IDEMIA Securities Limited, formerly OT Morpho was banned by the Parliament from doing business in Kenya for at least 10 years.
This was arrived at after the firm introduced complications for the government over then ongoin National Integrated Identity Management System (Niims) or Huduma Namba, whose Sh6 billion contract had been awarded to the French firm.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) must investigate IDEMIA, with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) instituting appropriate criminal action in line with the Companies Act for purporting to do business with IEBC without being registered locally as required,” chair of PAC Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said after they found the French firm to have acted in breach of law for not being registered locally as a foreign company.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission awarded the firm a Sh6 billion tender to supply voter identification and results transmission kits (KIEMS) ahead of the 2017 polls. Opposition candidate Raila Odinga accused the firm of being complicit in alleged rigging of the presidential election whose outcome was later declared null and void by the Supreme Court head CJ Maraga.
The new constitution is not clear whether the Parliament can rather has the powers to ‘ban’ companies. However, the Parliament can advise the State to act appropriately with the correct citing of a violation of the Companies Act.
So why did Absa Kenya go ahead to trust the firm that has soiled its own brand name with customer data?
Why did chose to run with Idemia previously OT Morpho, who lost people’s trust long while ago?
What was the effects of the Parliament ban to the French firm if the can still operate in Kenya?
Is there a justification or it was assumed that rebranding and renaming the same firm accused of multiple data breach and election rigging technology shelved all those serious allegations?
Here is how OT Morpho rebranded to Idemia.
OT (Oberthur Technologies) merged with Morpho, and the new entity is Idemia. Morpho specialized in citizen identity and security solutions; OT in all manner of card solutions, including for payment and even sim cards. OT, now Idemia, has been in card business for years despite multiple accusations of data breach.
