Kenyans are less concerned about security and privacy of personal data posted on the internet, a global survey indicates.
According to the report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), only four in every 10 internet users in Kenya are concerned about their privacy online.
The report released on Wednesday also indicates this is the lowest level in the world against the global average of eight in every 10 internet users.
This implies that Kenyans are an easy target for cybercriminals.
“While there appears to be increasing concerns about data privacy and online security around the world, there is somewhat a ‘data privacy paradox’, as users continue to give away personal data and thus their privacy in exchange for different services,” says UNCTAD Digital Economy report.
“The lowest level of concern was noted in Kenya at 44 percent.”
The report is based on findings of the 2019 Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust on 25,229 internet users in select 25 countries in the world between December 21, 2018, and February 10, 2019.
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter were cited as the second biggest sources of distrust of the internet, only second to cybercriminals.
“Many of these services (internet searches, social media and online reservations) are offered by various platforms free of charge or on a take-it-or-leave-it basis,” UNCTAD says.
“This situation has been described as someone who is not paying for a product, becomes the product. Therefore, paradoxically, privacy becomes part of the economy.”
