Data Privacy Risks of Recycled Phone Numbers
The Kenyan government launched the Gava Mkononi app this week. Against this backdrop, there are genuine concerns about steps being taken to safeguard citizen data. Today, we review the risks associated with recycled phone numbers. Gava Mkononi and eCitizen The Kenya government has prioritised mobile phones in their digital services ambition to scale up access to government services from the current 400 to 5,000 by the end of the year. To that end, it is facilitating citizens' access to low-priced mobile phones through a local manufacturer and a leading telco. The Gava M kononi service is an extension of the country’s eCitizen platform. The eCitizen platform uses SMS-based authentication where a single-use passcode (OTP) is sent to the subscriber's phone through a text message. Negative effects of recycled numbers More than ever, phone numbers are tied to people’s identities. They are used to link online accounts (social media accounts, ridesharing apps, mo...