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19
Tue, Mar

Breach Of Privacy: NITDA Investigates Truecaller

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The National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) has announced the commencement of an investigation on international caller identification software, Truecaller following an alleged breach of privacy rights of Nigerians.

The disclosure was made by Kashifu Inuwa, Director General/CEO, NITDA, during a press release by the agency.

Inuwa noted that findings by the agency indicated that the Privacy Policy of the Truecaller software is not in line with global data protection laws as well as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

He further stressed that over seven million Nigerians are active users of the software, making it necessary to enlighten the public on the dangers of areas of non-compliance and guide affected users.

‘‘The attention of the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) has been drawn to the potential breach of privacy rights of Nigerians by the Truecaller Service.

‘‘The Agency, in accordance with Section 6(f) of the NITDA Act 2007, which empowers it to render advisory services in all information technology matters to the public and private sectors, wish to inform the public that it commences an investigation of the potential breach of the Privacy right of Nigerians.

‘‘The provision of the Truecaller Privacy Policy is clearly excessive and invasive of the privacy of its users. Article 2.3(2)d of the NDPR provides – when assessing whether consent is freely given, utmost account shall be taken of whether the performance of a contract, including the provision of a service, is conditional on consent to the processing of Personal Data that is not necessary (or excessive) for the performance of that contract,’’ the agency was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, NITDA said it will continue to monitor activities digital service providers in a bid to safeguard the privacy of Nigerians.

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