Nairobi, Kenya.
Google Kenya Ltd, a subsidiary of global technology giant Google LLC, is at the center of a legal battle over alleged invasion of privacy and breach of Kenyan data protection rules. The African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA), a rights lobby group, claims that Google unlawfully tracked Android users and collected personal information, including face photos, without proper consent. Google Kenya, however, denies these allegations, asserting that it does not store or process the data in question.
The core of the dispute lies in the accusation that Google LLC, headquartered in the United States, violated the privacy of Kenyan users by collecting their personal information. Google Kenya contends that these services are offered by Google LLC and, as such, it should not be implicated in the case.
The lawsuit before Justice Mugure Thande, was filed in March and alleges that Google breached Kenya’s data protection laws by collecting users’ biometric information without explicit consent. The petitioners seek damages for the alleged privacy breach. Google Kenya firmly denies responsibility for providing the services mentioned and highlights its distinction from Google LLC, which is based in the United States.
Google Kenya maintains that it does not have any branches or operations in Kenya and is a limited liability company involved in marketing support services and research and development. The services in question, such as Google Photos and Android OS, are offered by Google LLC, which holds exclusive data control over users’ personal data.
