The Nationwide Data Know-how Improvement Company (NITDA), in collaboration with Advocacy for Coverage and Innovation (API), has launched a Whitepaper on the Framework for an On-line Harms Safety Invoice in Nigeria.
This landmark doc seeks to handle the rising problem of on-line harms whereas fostering a safe digital ecosystem within the nation.
In keeping with NITDA, the Whitepaper emerges from the outcomes of Nigeria’s first-ever Content material Moderation and On-line Security Summit held in July 2022, hosted by API, an African non-profit devoted to advancing digital innovation and inclusive policymaking.
It serves as a foundational step towards making a complete authorized framework to guard Nigerians within the digital area.
Prevalence of on-line harms
The doc highlights the prevalence of on-line harms, together with threats to kids and weak teams, and analyzes world regulatory efforts whereas proposing methods suited to Nigeria’s distinctive context.
- It aggregates insights from analysis, civil society organizations, and stakeholders to suggest actionable regulatory pathways.
- NITDA famous that regardless of previous efforts such because the enactment of the Cybercrime Act 2015 and the Web Code of Observe, there may be an pressing want for a extra sturdy on-line hurt safety regulation as a result of persistent and evolving nature of on-line threats.
“Regardless of current laws, the complexities of the digital surroundings require a extra complete and collaborative strategy to on-line security for Nigerians,” it acknowledged.
Targets of the Whitepaper
In keeping with NITDA, the Whitepaper goals to:
- Spark Nationwide Dialogue: Provoke significant discussions on combating on-line harms and balancing regulatory motion with fostering a vibrant digital ecosystem.
- Information Coverage Improvement: Supply concepts and suggestions to tell the creation of a authorized framework for on-line security.
- Encourage Stakeholder Participation: Function a collaborative basis for participating authorities companies, civil society, companies, and the broader public.
“This white paper underscores the significance of regulatory measures broadly, and for kids and minorities particularly, and requires a collaborative and data-driven strategy to crafting a framework to make sure a safer digital surroundings for all,” the Company acknowledged.
NITDA emphasised that the doc shouldn’t be a definitive regulatory information however a research-driven instrument to information discussions and refine coverage instructions.
Name for stakeholder engagement
The company invitations stakeholders, together with companies, civil society teams, native and worldwide web platforms, and the general public, to evaluate the Whitepaper and supply suggestions.
It added {that a} devoted secretariat will collate responses, which will likely be offered to stakeholder teams for additional dialogue earlier than drafting the ultimate invoice.
The Company reiterated its dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s digital financial system and making a protected on-line surroundings for all customers.
What you must know
To deal with the problem of on-line harms, Nigeria had up to now give you a number of legal guidelines and guidelines such because the Web Code of Observe by the Nigerian Communications Fee 2017; Nigeria Broadcasting Code 2020, and the Nationwide Data Know-how Improvement Company (NITDA) issued Code of Observe for Interactive Pc Service Platforms/ Web Intermediaries, 2022.
Legislative and regulatory proposals such because the Digital Rights and Freedom Invoice 2019, the “Social Media Invoice,” and the NBC Modification Invoice 2023 additionally purpose to defend residents from these on-line risks.
Nonetheless, all of those regulatory efforts have encountered criticism principally round perceived inadequacies, the constriction of the civic area, and constraints on human rights.
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