FG bars online banks from accessing customers’ photos and contacts

The federal government of Nigeria has banned Loan apps from accessing customers’ photos and contacts.

 

From May 31, 2023 loan apps on Play Store will lose their ability to access their users’ contacts or photos on a new policy by Google.

Google, in its April 2023 policy updates, said the new policy update would provide respite for loan app users in Nigeria and other places that have become accustomed to crude loan retrieval methods employed by a majority of loan apps.

According to the FG, the latest policy by Google was consistent with the Nigerian authorities’ move to curtail the invasion of customers’ privacy by loan app firms.

 

Recently the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had recently registered 170 loan apps out of the 200 operating in the country.

 

Google said, “Policy preview (effective May 31, 2023): This article previews changes included in our April 2023 policy updates.

“We are updating our personal loans policy to state that apps aiming to provide or facilitate personal loans may not access user contacts or photos.

“We are introducing additional requirements for personal loan apps targeting users in Pakistan. Personal loan apps in Pakistan must submit country-specific licensing documentation to prove their ability to provide or facilitate personal loans.”

This new policy is coming after Google announced updates to its Developer Programme Policy, mandating digital money lenders in Nigeria, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kenya to conform to regulatory rules or be taken down by January 31.