The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has handed Oppo a fine of Ksh.5 million fine over failure to comply with the commissioner’s data protection regulations.
In a public notice released by ODPC, the penalty was slapped after Oppo failed to prove that it had developed a data privacy policy in accordance with an enforcement notice issued by the commissioner.
The data protection agency issued the notice to the mobile company after an individual lodged a complaint to ODPC that Oppo used the complainant’s photo on a social media post without the individual’s consent.
“Oppo Kenya has failed to adduce a data protection policy pursuant to the enforcement notice issued and proof that it has developed an internal complaints mechanism to address data subjects’ complaints.” read part of the notice.
“Oppo Kenya is therefore required to pay to the ODPC a penalty of Ksh.5 Million pursuant to section 63 of the Data Protection Act, and Regulation 20 of the Data Protection.”
Read:Kenya Set To Benefit From Africa’s First Real Estate Data Hub
ODPC has also accused Oppo of failing to cooperate with the commissioner in settling the data privacy matter, which compelled the agency to take punitive action.
The ODPC boss Immaculate Kassait has asked non-adherent entities to be careful in handling the subjects’ data, failure to which appropriate action will be taken.
Kassait noted that most of the entities issued with compliance notices are digital money lenders, who she says have demonstrated an unwillingness to abide by the notice. She said that of the 40 credit providers who have been issued with a notice, only 18 have responded.
Email your news TIPS toeditor@thesharpdaily.com