Data
protection experts pushing for earnest legal frameworks for the privacy of
Nigerians on the Internet have warned that there is no security in the African
web space.
The
experts held a seminar on Tuesday in Ibadan to discuss how the worrisome
situation could be addressed to avert even more debilitating realities for
Internet users across the continent.
“Online
privacy and online security in Africa are virtually non-existent or at best,
far between and calls for spirited informed action, stakeholders vigilance and
voice,” said Tunji Olaopa, executive vice-chairman of Ibadan School of
Governance and Public Policy, ISGPP.
Mr.
Olaopa said Africa has become the new frontier of Internet-based ventures and
giant telecommunication ventures and, as such, cannot afford to be hapless with
its data protection mechanism.
Other
experts who spoke at the event also warned of potentially grave consequences
for the African populace unless immediate measures are taken, especially the
need to enact data protection laws.
Emmanuel
Okochu of Co-Creation Hub Nigeria, a Lagos-based technology and innovation
centre, said that the biggest challenge to data protection in Nigeria is that
most users do not have a detailed understanding of its positive sides.
“The
people you seek to protect are the ones who don’t understand why they should be
protected,” Mr. Okochu said.
The
expert said his firm often issues warnings to Internet users to be wary of how
much personal information they put online, but this piece of advice is rarely
heeded.
Also at
the event was Tope Ogundipe, who represented Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, a
public-policy think-tank. She said citizens’ data are regularly collected by
countries across Africa without appropriate legal structure upon which such
activities could be predicated.
Paradigm
Initiative and other privacy rights advocates are pushing for a Digital Rights
and Freedom Bill to address Internet anomalies in Nigeria. The bill is
currently being debated at the National Assembly.
Several
representatives came from other African countries including, Nigeria, South
Africa, Mauritius, Kenya, Ghana, Ivory Coast, amongst others.
No comments:
Post a Comment