In its bid to track counterfeit devices, the African country of Kenya led by Uhuru Kenyatta has launched an attempt to compel mobile phone companies in the country to allow government agents to tap people’s communication data.

According to Ceoafrica, the government industry regulator, Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), has written to mobile service providers requesting to be able to monitor their networks, effectively opening up private communication data on phone calls, text messages and financial transactions to an entity other than those already licensed to hold the information.

The proposed move would see more than 30 million mobile phone owners in Kenya lose their privacy and confidentiality.

The main mobile phone companies are Safaricom, Airtel and Orange and there has been sharp criticism of the plan in local media.