The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said there is a need for content moderation in the digital space in line with global practices to ensure the safety of users.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, stated this on Monday when a team from TikTok, a social media platform, visited him in Abuja.
Inuwa said it is important for stakeholders to collaborate in advancing the Nigerian digital space as activities online generate human and Artificial Intelligence (AI) compendium, accessible to the rest of the world.
He called for the implementation of content moderation strategies that would address online issues such as hate speech, misinformation and cyberbullying, in relation to the protection of minors across the country.
NITDA, which introduced a Code of Practice to guide the operations of Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, TikTok, and other social media platforms in the country in 2022, said Nigeria will be leveraging the code and partnership with stakeholders to achieve digital content moderation.
Highlighting some critical areas, the NITDA DG said that leveraging an interactive computer service platform would advance the country through its Digital Literacy 4 All (DL4ALL) program.
According to him, it will ensure capacity building, knowledge sharing, training, curbing of misinformation, and digital safety to create a safer cyberspace and empower the online environment for Nigerian users.
Inuwa said that NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2024-2027) was structured around eight pillars, part of which provided avenues to safeguard the digital space.
Earlier, Mrs Tokunbo Ibrahim, Head of Government Regulation and Public Policy, TikTok Nigeria and West Africa, commended NITDA as, according to him, the agency’s policies align with the vision of TikTok.
NITDA in 2022 introduced the ‘Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries and Conditions for Operating in Nigeria’ to drive the moderation of all digital content in the country.
Although this was heavily criticized by many Nigerians, the Code remains. However, it is unclear if this is being enforced yet.
Part of the Code dictates that internet platforms including social media must: