The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has stated that organisations must proactively ensure that they adhere to proper procedures when handling individuals’ data.
This follows a request for the commission to audit the ride-hailing app, Bolt, after an alleged case of identity theft involving a Bolt driver and a passenger.
The passenger took legal action against Bolt, prompting the commission to carry out an audit of the company. This incident has since raised concerns about the safety of data protection practices.
Speaking to Citi News in Accra on Wednesday, the Executive Director for the Data Protection Commission, Patricia Adusei Poku, encouraged individuals to assess whether their data is being processed correctly by organisations, as empowered by data protection laws.
“I’m going to send a message out to all entities to be proactively accountable to the people concerned. Data protection is here to say people are empowered by the act to assess themselves when they find that their data is not being processed accurately, and they will complain and also seek compensation.
“Again, we will require all other staff of such entities to whistle, blow, and let the commission know if they know that things are not going according to the requirements of the law, and also ask individuals to complain to us when they feel that their data is not being processed the right way,” he stated.
