This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
Published on September 14, 2019, a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development highlighted the growing concern about online privacy in Kenya.
According to the "Digital Economy Report 2019", only 44% of internet users in Kenya are concerned about their online privacy, a stark contrast to over 90% in countries like Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, and Nigeria.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has made his wealth by invading people's privacy, might not have predicted the Kenyan market's receptiveness to this invasion.
However, it's not just Facebook's fault; we enabled them by clicking 'I Accept' without reading the fine print.
The report refers to this as a 'data privacy paradox', where users give away personal data in exchange for services.
As Kenyans, we're trading our privacy for likes, swipes, and comments, making it essential to accept that privacy ended the minute we signed up for our online accounts.
With cyberattacks on the rise, it's alarming that the talent pool of defenders is not keeping pace.
During the recent census, some netizens expressed discomfort with giving enumerators their passport and/or identity card numbers, highlighting concerns about the government's ability to safeguard personal details.
As we navigate the complexities of online life, it's time to accept that the idea of privacy in the age of the internet and smartphones is a myth.
Instead of complaining about privacy, we should operate with a simple golden rule: If you can't show it to your mother, don't show it to the world.
