AfriPulse
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised concerns over the low level of public awareness of Nigeria’s data protection law, warning that poor understanding of data rights exposes citizens to financial and security risks.
Speaking at the organisation’s second Digital Policy Dialogue held in Kano, CITAD disclosed that fewer than 20 percent of Nigerians are aware of the data protection rights contained in the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
It added that many citizens also lack knowledge of how to file complaints when their consent is violated or their data is misused.
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CITAD’s Executive Director, Dr. Y. Z. Yau, stressed that data protection has become crucial in a digital age where personal data can be exploited for significant harm, including unauthorised access to bank accounts.
“The law says if a data user wants to share your data with a third party, they must obtain your consent. But many of them share our data with advertisers and politicians without our permission,” Yau said.
The dialogue also highlighted that data owners have the right to withdraw consent at any time and seek legal redress for violations of their privacy rights.
Participants at the forum identified several challenges confronting data protection in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
These include insufficient data protection officers at the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), weak cybersecurity infrastructure, low digital literacy, unsolicited advertisements on social media, and frequent but unreported data breaches.
The forum further cautioned Nigerians against abusive conduct on social media platforms such as Twitter (formerly X), warning that some countries may deny visas based on digital footprints, including online attacks on foreign political figures.
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Source: DailyTrust | Read the Full Story…
