The Federal Government has issued a firm warning to individuals active on social media, as well as online content creators, regarding the unauthorized recording and public sharing of videos and images featuring unsuspecting citizens.
Authorities have made it clear that such actions could now attract serious penalties.
Speaking through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, the government expressed concern over a rising trend, particularly in Lagos State, where people are filmed without their knowledge in public spaces such as busy roadsides.
These recordings are often uploaded to popular platforms like TikTok, X, and Meta without the consent of those featured, prompting an official response from regulators.
According to a statement released by the Commission, these practices infringe upon the constitutional rights of citizens.
The NDPC pointed to Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy, as well as the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, which regulates the processing of personal data.
A fact-finding exercise carried out by the Commission revealed that many of these recordings lack any genuine public interest justification. In most cases, no lawful basis exists for capturing and distributing such content.
The NDPC emphasized that obtaining clear and explicit permission from individuals before recording or sharing their images is a legal requirement. It warned that failure to secure such consent places both the creators of the content and the platforms hosting it at risk of legal action.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who serves as the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, has called on digital platforms to take their responsibilities seriously.
He urged them to enforce their own community guidelines more strictly and to take proactive measures to prevent the distribution of content obtained through unlawful data processing.
The Commissioner cautioned that platforms neglecting these duties could face sanctions under the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
The Commission also made it clear that individual content creators are not beyond the reach of the law. It noted that those who violate the privacy rights of others could face criminal prosecution, stressing that Nigerians have a reasonable expectation that their images will not be captured and shared publicly without their knowledge or agreement.
Babatunde Bamigboye, who heads the Legal, Enforcement and Regulations department at the NDPC, signed off on the statement and reiterated the government’s resolve to enforce privacy protections rigorously. He stated that both platforms and creators must respect the rights of citizens or be prepared to face legal consequences.
In a similar development, the NDPC has aligned itself with over 60 data protection authorities worldwide in endorsing an international statement focused on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
This joint declaration, coordinated by the Global Privacy Assembly’s International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group, addresses the growing threat of AI-generated imagery, including deepfakes and non-consensual intimate content. It calls on organizations that develop or deploy AI tools to put in place robust safeguards, maintain transparency in their operations, and establish clear procedures for the swift removal of harmful material, all in line with existing data protection laws.
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