The menace that is mobile loans in Kenya continues to terrorize poor Kenyans who forfeit all their privacy when they agree to unregulated terms and conditions in order to access these loans.
Shad Khalif, a Twitter user has today put into the open a breach of Kenyans right to privacy as one of the mobile loan apps, Usawa loans has been uploading all user data clients submit on its website public for all to see.
The data includes full official names, their phone numbers, loan IDs, and Identity card numbers.
Haiya this was serious, Usawa Loans company website gives you all info about its clients!! Including phone numbers and ID numbers! Waaaah the breach of data privacy laws (non existent in Kenya anyway) is enormous!!😭 pic.twitter.com/XLtG7gVwGg
— Tawera: Ama mimi ndio mjinga?🤔 (@Shad_khalif) September 21, 2020
This is even as their privacy policy reads that they do not share or sell ” your personal information with any third parties and will not do so without your authorization, except where necessary for servicing and collection of your loan(s).”
There are over 24,600 downloadable rows of customer information. Phone, names, and ID numbers. This amount of information can be put into criminal use should it come into the wrong hands.
Data privacy laws in Kenya are non-existent, Communication companies and telcos are selling user data without any repercussions, the government of Kenya has continuously failed to protect its citizens.
Instead of introducing some hogwash laws that violate the freedom of speech, the respective lawmakers should be making laws to protect innocent Kenyans who result in borrowing these loans due to pathetic leadership.
