A man from Murang’a County has been fined Ksh 1.5 million by the Data Protection Office (DPO) for posting a photo of his girlfriend on social media without her consent. The man, identified as John Mwangi, violated the Data Protection Act of 2019, which protects the privacy and personal data of individuals.
According to the DPO, Mwangi posted a photo of his girlfriend, Mary Wanjiku, on Facebook with the caption “My love, my life, my everything”. The photo showed Wanjiku smiling and holding a bouquet of roses. Mwangi claimed that he posted the photo to celebrate their one-year anniversary and to express his love for her.
However, Wanjiku was not amused by the gesture. She filed a complaint with the DPO, alleging that Mwangi had breached her privacy and personal data rights. She said that she did not give him permission to post her photo online and that he had exposed her to unwanted attention and harassment from strangers. Wanjiku also said that he had made it harder for her to move on if they ever broke up.
Privacy Violation
“I don’t want everyone to know who I am dating or what I look like. That is my personal information and I have the right to control who sees it. He should have asked me first before posting my photo. He has no respect for me or my privacy,” Wanjiku said.
The DPO agreed with Wanjiku and found Mwangi guilty of violating the Data Protection Act. They ordered Mwangi to pay a fine of Ksh 1.5 million to Wanjiku as compensation for the damage caused by his actions. The DPO also ordered Mwangi to delete the photo from his Facebook account and to refrain from posting any photos of Wanjiku without her consent in the future.
The DPO said that the fine was meant to deter Mwangi and other people from posting photos of their partners on social media without consent. They also added that such photos could infringe on the privacy and personal data rights of individuals and could also affect their relationships.
“Posting photos of your partner on social media without consent is not romantic. It is irresponsible and illegal. You are not only violating their privacy and personal data rights, but you are also putting them at risk of cyberbullying, stalking, identity theft, and other crimes. You are also making it harder for them to move on if you break up. How would you feel if your ex posted your photo online and everyone knew who you dated? Think before you post,” the DPO said.
Public Reaction
The DPO’s decision has sparked mixed reactions from the public. Some people have supported Wanjiku and praised the DPO for upholding her rights. They have said that posting photos of partners on social media without consent is disrespectful and intrusive.
Others have criticized Wanjiku and accused her of being ungrateful and overreacting. They have said that posting photos of partners on social media without consent is harmless and sweet. They have also questioned the DPO’s authority and the amount of the fine.
The case has also raised questions about the implications of posting photos of partners on social media without consent on dating. Some people have said that posting photos of partners on social media without consent is a sign of love and commitment. They have said that it shows that they are proud of their partners and that they want to share their happiness with others.
Others have said that posting photos of partners on social media without consent is a sign of insecurity and possessiveness. They have said that it shows that they are afraid of losing their partners and that they want to mark their territory.
