User Experiences with Third-Party SIM Cards and ID Registration in Kenya and Tanzania

TL;DR

This study investigates the challenges and risks associated with third-party SIM card use in Kenya and Tanzania, highlighting privacy concerns, institutional factors, and security risks despite increased ID accessibility.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into the social and institutional factors influencing third-party SIM card use and associated security and privacy risks in SSA.

Findings

Third-party SIM use is prevalent despite ID accessibility improvements.

Privacy concerns drive some users to use third-party SIMs.

Users face significant security and privacy risks, including scams and wrongful arrests.

Abstract

Mobile money services in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have increased access to financial services. To ensure proper identification of users, countries have put in place Know-Your-Customer (KYC) measures such as SIM registration using an official identification. However, half of the 850 million people without IDs globally live in SSA, and the use of SIM cards registered in another person's name (third-party SIM) is prevalent. In this study, we explore challenges that contribute to and arise from the use of third-party SIM cards. We interviewed 36 participants in Kenya and Tanzania. Our results highlight great strides in ID accessibility, but also highlight numerous institutional and social factors that contribute to the use of third-party SIM cards. While privacy concerns contribute to the use of third-party SIM cards, third-party SIM card users are exposed to significant security and privacy risks, including scams, financial loss, and wrongful arrest.