The Nigeria Data Protection Commission, has cautioned content creators against recording and sharing videos or images of unsuspecting members of the public without their consent, warning that such actions could lead to criminal prosecution.
The commission, in a statement on Friday, said it had received reports of individuals capturing footage of people in public spaces and posting them on social media, describing the acts as violations of citizens’ constitutional right to privacy.
A particular case highlighted involved a content creator in Lagos State who films passers-by for a self-styled “reality show.”
NDPC said preliminary investigations indicated that the recordings served neither public nor legitimate interest.
“These acts violate the rights of citizens to informational self-determination as guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023,” the statement said.
“Processing images of individuals in this manner requires consent unless there is a lawful basis for doing so.”
NDPC’s National Commissioner and CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, directed social media platform owners, including TikTok, X, and Meta, to enforce community guidelines and prevent unlawful sharing of personal data.
“Platform owners are expected to strengthen enforcement to prevent harm to individuals through unlawful and unfair processing of personal data,” Dr. Olatunji stated.
The commission also emphasised that content creators are personally accountable for violating privacy laws and may face criminal charges.
“Where platform owners fail to act promptly, the Commission will not hesitate to impose sanctions under the NDP Act. Individual creators remain liable for their actions and omissions,” the statement added.
NDPC’s warning comes amid growing concerns over privacy violations in Nigeria, as social media content increasingly exposes individuals to public scrutiny without their knowledge or consent.
