Approved: Here Is How Govt Spying Software Will Work
On Friday, the government, via the Communication Authority (CA), revealed its intention to proceed with implementing a mobile phone tracking system.
In April 2023, California was approved by the Supreme Court to proceed with implementing a Device Management System (DMS) capable of monitoring mobile phone user activities. However, despite the green light from the court, the implementation of this system was postponed.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, in his statement to the Senate ICT Committee on Friday, guaranteed lawmakers that the government would not violate the privacy of Kenyan citizens with the DMS system.
He observed that the software’s sole purpose would be to limit the proliferation of fake mobile devices and address the growing issue of smartphone theft.
The State’s surveillance of mobile phones was deemed necessary by the CS due to the surge of unauthorized and inferior counterfeit devices flooding the country.
“CA has set out to develop an effective technological solution to control the threat through the deployment of a system to automatically detect and disable end-user equipment that does not meet set criteria,” Owalo explained how the software would work.
Owalo held a positive outlook that the implementation of DMS within his Ministry would put a stop to SIM Boxing fraud. This fraudulent method, frequently utilized by scammers in Kenya, involves redirecting international calls to a mobile phone using the internet.
The scammers utilize the SIM box device to redirect the connection within the network as local calls, are enabled through deceitfully acquired and frequently unregistered SIM cards.
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The ICT Ministry has stated that using DMS will prevent the ability to route international calls through the internet to appear as local phone calls for the country’s mobile network subscribers, thereby eliminating this practice.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah restated on Sunday that the Data Messaging Services (DMS) contradicted the Constitution by posing a risk to the privacy rights of subscribers due to its inconsistency with constitutional provisions.
Owalo, on the other hand, justified the decision by emphasizing that the execution would strictly adhere to the Constitution and all pertinent laws in the nation.
CA will collaborate with the National Police Service, Mobile Network Operators, Kenya Trade Network Agency, Kenya Bureau of Standards, and Anti Counterfeit Agency to guarantee the effective implementation of the plan.
Previously, the regulatory body rejected claims suggesting that DMS could be utilized to obtain access to phone records, location data, and transactions related to mobile money.
DMS initially gained attention in 2016, but its rollout faced setbacks due to several legal battles, delaying its execution until the Supreme Court finally permitted its implementation.
Approved: Here Is How Govt Spying Software Will Work
