#FichaUchi: Insights from Focus Group Discussions on Data Protection
In 2023, the Ficha Uchi Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) covered 9 counties, aiming to delve deeper into citizens' perceptions of personal data. This is what we learned.
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Top 7 Trends Shaping Data Privacy – 2024
As we approach 2024, data privacy has become an increasingly relevant topic. Just this July 2023, Kenya faced a pivotal moment when the e-Citizen government platform, entrusted with our most sensitive personal information, fell victim to a cyberattack. It was a Distributed denial-of-service (DDOC) attack that would see many Kenyans locked out of their government…
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Towards Africa’s GDPR?
Africa, with its tapestry of cultures and a history as old as time itself, is now amid a digital awakening. Stepping into the data era with purpose, it’s time we asked ourselves, “How do we take control of our digital narrative?” Multinational corporations are setting up the data rules—much like someone else dictating how we…
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#FichaUchi 2.0: Your Data, Your Rights
In an increasingly digital world, our lives have become intertwined with technology, opening up avenues for both convenience and vulnerability. The digital age has ushered in new opportunities for scammers, and it seems no one is immune to their tactics. Building on our last data protection awareness campaign, we sought to address issues of data…
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The Impact of Citizen-Generated Data
While data generated by National Statistical Organisations (NSOs) and corporations has long been the focus of attention, there’s a growing recognition of the significance of Citizen Generated Data (CGD). CGD is data produced at the grassroots level by individuals, often through their daily activities and interactions. Through CGD citizens are not just data subjects but…
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Citizen-Generated Data puts power in the citizens’ hands
Traditionally, data collection initiatives have often been top-down, with external organizations setting the agenda and citizens responding reactively. In the traditional model, institutions play a central role in defining what data is collected and how it is collected. Citizens are seen as respondents, participating in data collection exercises initiated by others. While this approach is…
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Safeguarding Data Privacy in an AI driven world
It is very easy for us to hear about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and think this is just another discovery in the world of technology that has nothing to do with us. We don’t mean to burst your bubble but, you are already using AI as you read this. AI is slowly but surely becoming a…
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Data Protection in the Rise of Fraud ahead of new digital ID system launch.
Most of us, if not all, have had someone politely call or message them asking for MPesa Refunds which often sound like, “Nancy, nimekutumia 5K kwa MPesa by mistake, naomba unirudishie.” (Nancy, I have erroneously sent you Kes. 5,000, kindly send it back) or “ Niko na mtoto hospitalini, ameumwa na nyoka. Please nitumie pesa…
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#FichaUchi: Understanding citizen behaviour on data rights and data protection
Every day, we willingly or unwillingly disclose our personal information to individuals or organisations, often without awareness of how this data may be utilised. At the Open Institute, we have been educating Kenyans on how to handle their personal data more carefully, and what their data rights are, through a social media campaign dubbed #FichaUchi.…
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#FichaUchi: The WorldCoin Craze and what it means for Kenyans
The World Coin phenomenon has rightly brought to the fore the conversation on data privacy and how our sensitive personal information can be collected and misused. World Coin, a company whose parent Tools for Humanity has obtained a registration certificate from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to collect Kenyans data, has been trending…
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