Assess The Perceptions Of Personal Data Privacy Amongst Users And Developers Of Mobile Applications In Kenya

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to demonstrate the importance of understanding the right to privacy of personal data relating to someone’s personal life. The objectives guiding this study were: to establish to what extent users of mobile applications understand that personal data collected through these applications was private. To understand the role of mobile application users in enhacing the knowledge of role of privacy when using mobile application. Finally, to establish to what extent mobile application users understood that they have a responsibility for their personal data. The paper utilized a descriptive research design. A total of 259 respondents were interviewed in Nairobi County. The study found out that most users of mobile applications were aware of their right to privacy of personal data regarding their personal lives and families. The study found out that if mobile application users understood that they had rights with respect to personal data relating to their private and family life, they are most likely to protect any information they share when using mobile applications. Those who were aware of their rights to privacy were most likely to refuse to provide any information. However, majority of users were not aware they had a right to access and correct any personal data collected from their mobile applications. From a mobile developers perspective, the study found out that creating knowledge on privacy amongst mobile application users such as purpose of collecting personal data, recipient of the data and how the data was to be processed increased users likelihood to know their rights to privacy. The study also found out that mobile application developers had an important role in educating users on how their information is being used. The study further found out that those agencies that had full access of your personal data, were most likely to transmit it to third parties. The study recommends that there is a need to fast track the Data Protection Bill in Kenya currently under discussion. Additionally, there is a need for greater collaboration amongst private and public sector organisations to enhance knowledge on the role of rights to privacy when collecting personal data.