Online Safety: Nigeria lauds global tech giants for compliance with Code of Practice

*The Federal Government of Nigeria commends Google, Microsoft and TikTok for their continued compliance with the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries and 2024 compliance report

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Government has commended Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for their continued compliance with the country’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries.

ConsumerConnect reports the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which gave the commendation, also lauded the global technology giants for submission of the 2024 Compliance Report.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and NITDA had jointly formulated and issued the Code of Practice that outlines clear guidelines for promoting online safety and managing harmful content in the Nigerian digital space.

It sgould be noted that online security has been a matter of serious concern as the West African country’s digital economy expands.

Nigeria faces various cyberthreats, including cybercrime, data breaches, and online fraud, which can lead to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and disruptions to critical infrastructure, a report also said.

Underscoring the significance of the 2024 Compliance Reports, NITDA said such Compliance Reports by the Big Techs had provided valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts at addressing user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines in the digital environment.

Highlights of 2024 Compliance Reports

Giving insights into the highlights of the Big Techs, Mrs. Hadiza Umar fnipr; f.apra, Director of Corporate Communications and  Media Relations at NITDA, stated the highlights of the overall statistics across all platforms include the following:

Seven-hundred fifty-four thousand, six hundred twenty-nine (754,629) registered complaints.

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The tech giants also recorded fifty-eight million, nine hundred nine thousand, one hundred twelve (58,909,112) content takedowns last year.

The telecoms sector regulatory agency also said the global social media platforms removed and reuploaded 420,439 digital content, following an appeal by consumers.

The agency equally noted that the platforms closed and deactivated 13,597,057 users’ accounts on their platforms 2024.

Code of Practice compliance for safer digital ecosystem

The regulatory agency said the tech giants’ submission of their Compliance Reports as well marked,”a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users.”

NITDA also stated that the Reports demonstrate Google, Microsoft and TikTok platforms’ commitment to ensuring a secure and trustworthy online environment for all in Nigeria’s cyberspace.

This achievement in cybersecurity, Mrs. Umar said, reflects the provisions of the Code of Practice, which mandates that large service platforms are registered in Nigeria and comply with relevant laws, including the fulfillment of their tax obligation, while reinforcing the commitment to online safety for consumers.

The Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations further stated: “While NITDA acknowledges these commendable efforts, we emphasise that building a safer digital space requires sustained collaboration and engagement among all stakeholders.

“We remain committed to working with industry players, civil society, and regulatory partners, to further strengthen user safety measures, enhance digital literacy, and promote trust and transparency in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.