Facebook to share data with police, KRA

Tech giant, Meta Platforms Inc, will from January start sharing information with the police and Kenya Revenue Authorities (KRA), according to its updated terms.

The company that owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, has updated its terms to be effective from January 3, 2023.

“Entrepreneurs using the platform to advertise or sell their products will automatically offer their consent for sharing of dealings of the business persons to a governmental entity or body if it believes that disclosure would assist in a lawful investigation,” says the tech firm.

The dealings include the advertising contents and all information associated with the publicity placed on its platform.

This comes after KRA commissioner James Githii Mburu said they will check if people’s lifestyle on social media matches their taxes.

“In the social media, we have some people posting some nice things. You would see some posting nice shoes, nice houses, cars taking their families to nice places,” Mburu said.

He said they have officers who focus on smoking out tax cheats through various social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, snapchat and Twitter.

“Our officers have gadgets. When they see a big car passing, they key in the number plates to check. We are working exceptionally hard,” he said.

This will be a big blow for socialites who occasionally post every single activity they engage in during vacations or even working hours.

Some splash their lives all over social media with big cars, big homes and in big hotels.

But the tax man now says if this does not match what you pay to the government, you risk travel bans and prosecution.