NITDA, in collaboration with Advocacy for Policy and Innovation, has released a Whitepaper outlining a Framework for an Online Harms Protection Bill in Nigeria.
This landmark document aims to tackle the rising challenge of online harms while promoting a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem in Nigeria.
NITDA noted that the Whitepaper stems from the deliberations of Nigeria’s inaugural Content Moderation and Online Safety Summit, held in July 2022 and hosted by API, a non-profit organization focused on advancing digital innovation and inclusive policy development in Africa.
The Whitepaper serves as a foundational step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework to safeguard Nigerians in the digital space.
It document underscores the prevalence of online harms, particularly those affecting children and vulnerable groups, and examines global regulatory approaches while recommending strategies tailored to Nigeria’s specific needs.
It consolidates insights from research, civil society organizations, and key stakeholders to propose actionable regulatory pathways.
NITDA emphasized that, despite previous efforts like the Cybercrime Act 2015 and the Internet Code of Practice, a more robust online harm protection law is urgently needed to address the persistent and evolving nature of online threats.
“Despite existing regulations, the complexities of the digital environment require a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to online safety for Nigerians,” it stated.
“This white paper underscores the importance of regulatory measures broadly, and for children and minorities especially, and calls for a collaborative and data-driven approach to crafting a framework to ensure a safer digital environment for all,” the Agency noted.
Nigeria has taken several steps to address online harms through laws and regulations such as the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Internet Code of Practice (2017), the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (2020), and NITDA’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries (2022).
Proposals like the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill (2019), the “Social Media Bill,” and the NBC Amendment Bill (2023) have also been introduced to enhance the protection of citizens from online threats.
