The Central Bank of Kenya has allowed the hiding of phone numbers on Mpesa transactions to protect users’ data.
The decision has received backing from other ICT-sector regulators, who argue it will protect mobile subscribers from fraud and social engineering.
If implemented, subscribers’ phone numbers will not be visible during transactions, reduce awkward follow-up calls, protect subscribers’ personal space, reduce the easiest paths for scammers, and protect customers’ privacy, as banks do.
The feature will also enable the recipient to query the sender’s full mobile phone number, which the sender may either consent to or decline.
Last year, the Communications Authority of Kenya stated that it welcomes technological initiatives from service providers that are aimed at improving the data privacy of mobile money users and signalled a willingness to okay the rollout of the number masking feature.