The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has outlined new regulations for Internet platforms to operate in Nigeria.
According to the reports, the regulations present through the office of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), requested that the social platforms and other internet-based applications are duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and appoint a representative from within that will be in communication with the Nigerian authority.
It was gathered that the new guidelines were contained in a statement signed and issued on Monday by NITDA spokesperson, Hadiza Umar.
The agency explained that the new guidelines were established to better define set rules for interaction in the digital ecosystem.
NITDA also demand that the platforms must comply with all regulatory demands and applicable tax obligations on their operations under Nigerian law.
We learned that the agency was directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to set out a code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (online platforms), in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders, working in line with the Section 6 of the NITDA Act 2007, which enables it to standardize, coordinate and develop regulatory frameworks for information technology (IT) practices in Nigeria.
While the conditions are yet to be fully implemented, the government said social media platforms must comply with the “new code” for continued operation in Nigeria.
According to the code, “Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, and others must “provide information to authorities on harmful accounts, suspected botnets, troll groups, and other coordinated disinformation networks and delete any information that violates Nigerian law within an agreed time.”
Social media platforms must also “provide a comprehensive compliance mechanism to avoid publication of prohibited contents and unethical behavior on their platform” It added.
Hadiza Umar NITDA spokesperson in a statement said the code was designed to protect the “fundamental human rights of Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in the country as well as define guidelines for interacting in the digital ecosystem.”
“Other relevant stakeholders with peculiar knowledge in this area were consulted such as Civil Society Organizations and expert groups. The results of these consultations were duly incorporated into the Draft code of the practice.”
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