In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) warned the public against sharing individuals’ personal information on social media, citing privacy law violations.
- This caution follows a recent trend of leaking personal details of public figures and protesters, prompting potential legal action against perpetrators.
The government, through the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), has issued a warning to the public against the victimization of individuals by sharing their personal information on social media.
This caution comes in response to a concerning trend where online users are mobilizing targeted attacks on individuals perceived to have done wrong.
These attacks involve asking for and sharing names, telephone numbers, locations, and details of family members online, leading to the targeted individuals being mocked and insulted.
This trend gained momentum after the phone numbers of President William Ruto and Members of Parliament were leaked on social media last week.
The leak was part of a public push to have the leaders withdraw controversial tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024.
Some MPs publicly lamented the barrage of random text messages and phone calls they received, indicating they felt the heat from the public.
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The trend continued into this week, with personal information of officers repulsing protesters during Tuesday’s protests against the Finance Bill being shared online.
In response, the ODPC issued a statement on Wednesday declaring such actions illegal and warning that perpetrators could face legal action.
The statement noted, “The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has established that there has been a recent trend of consolidating and sharing of personal information (names, telephone numbers, location, and details of family members) of a certain category of citizens through social media platforms.”
The ODPC emphasized that this practice occurs without the affected citizens’ consent, violating Article 31 of the Constitution of Kenya, the Data Protection Act, 2019, and its attendant regulations.
The office advised the public to refrain from sharing personal information that infringes on individuals’ privacy rights.
Additionally, the Data Protection Commissioner urged any member of the public whose privacy has been violated to file a complaint with the commission.