Orange fined heavily for breaching customer data in Liberia

Written by: Ayman Ragab

The authority imposed Liberian Telecommunications Orange Liberia was fined 4 million Liberian Lira (approximately US$20,000).

This came after it was revealed that the company had improperly issued a customer's SIM card to a third party, resulting in a breach of privacy and communications security.

Orange fined in Liberia

The case centered on customer Zella Johnson, whose mobile phone number became inactive in February 2024 after her SIM card was reportedly transferred without her permission.

The person who later received the SIM card was able to access the accounts associated with the number, permanently depriving Johnson of access to her phone.

Following an investigation, the Land Transport Authority concluded that Orange Liberia had failed to follow its own procedures and licensing obligations when issuing the replacement SIM card.

Orange customer data breach

The regulatory body concluded that the operator had not adequately protected customer information, violating the provisions of the Liberian Telecommunications Act 2007 relating to confidentiality, data protection and unauthorized access to telecommunications services.

In addition to the financial penalty, the Land Transport Authority directed Orange Liberia to identify both the employee responsible for issuing the SIM card and the person who received it.

The agency said the ruling underscores the critical importance of protecting consumer data and privacy, warning that telecommunications companies will face serious consequences if failures occur that jeopardize customer security.