The Federal Government may have started clamping down on social media users whose posts are perceived to be offensive, and run foul of code of conduct for online platforms.
For over four years now, the governemnt has been romancing the idea of regulating or even clamping down on social media use in the country,with the National Assembly even making attempts at legislating on its use.
The government may have finally bared its fangs with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) shutting down 13,597,057 social media accounts on platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for offensive content.
The enforcement action followed the submission of the 2024 Compliance Report by major service providers such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.
Despite the shutdown, NITDA commended the platforms for their cooperation and adherence to Nigeria’s regulations, which were developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Highlights of the 2024 Compliance Report include: Registered complaints: 754,629, Content removed: 58,909,112, Content reuploaded after appeal: 420,439, Accounts shut down/deactivated: 13,597,057
NITDA,which said the figures demonstrate the platforms’ efforts to protect users and remove harmful content in line with national laws, reiterated that all online platforms operating in Nigeria must be locally registered, comply with tax requirements, and adhere to the Code of Practice.
The agency added that it will continue to work with industry stakeholders, civil society, and regulators to promote user safety, digital literacy, and transparency across Nigeria’s digital platforms.
DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi