… Nigeria may ban any platform that fails to delete porn posts
…What this means is that ladies will no longer post contents exposing their body parts
…TikTok, Instagram or Twitter may likely start suspending many accounts in Nigeria
Nigeria has ordered Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and other online interactive platforms to delete porn posts within 24hrs.
The Federal Government of Nigeria also ordered the platforms to disable or block access to any non-consensual contents on their platforms.
It gave the directive in a recent Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (online platforms).
ALSO READ: Nigeria Issues Code Of Practice To Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Others
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) developed the code of practice in collaboration with other agencies.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) are part of the stakeholders.
Also, the code contains imputes from online interactive platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Moreover, the government said the online interactive platforms must remove and stop displaying post showing partial or full nudity.
Others are contents showing sexual acts, deep fake or revenge porn, within 24 hours.
Also, the directive from the government says the platforms must take down any unlawful content upon receiving a notice from a user.
So, if any of the platforms receives a notice of removal from an authorised government agency, it must remove the content.
If an individual also sends a notice to any of the platforms to remove a content showing full or partial nudity, it must remove it.
The directive, in the code of practice partly state thus:
Platforms must “act expeditiously to remove, disable, or block access to non-consensual content that exposes a person’s private areas, full or partial nudity, sexual act, or revenge porn, where such content is targeted to harass, disrepute, or intimidate an individual.
“A Platform must acknowledge the receipt of the complaint and take down the content within 24 hours.”
The code also directs techn0logy platforms to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
They must also have a physical presence in Nigeria by building infrastructure as well as hiring country representatives.
Why Nigeria gave the order:
Explaining the reason for the guidelines, the spokesperson for NITDA, Hadiza Umar, said they were designed to protect Nigerians and foreigners living in the country.
This directive may be especially necessary as recent developments in the country prove.
There have been frequent pornographic contents flooding the online platforms.
We remember sexual posts about ChrisLand School teens, Akwa Ibom State University student, Togolease lady by name Kelly, etc.
Some were leaked contents from people engaging in the act but did not authorised the posting of such contents on social media.
Others are deliberate sexual contents which the actors produced and put in the public space for public consumption.
Many people have had their images tarnished following leaked sexual contents.
However, moral decadence in the country is on the increase following, among others, nudes and sexual contents which actors deliberately put out for public consumption.
Implications:
This means ladies and those who engage in posting nudes and sexual contents will no longer do so freely.
Also, interactive platforms like Twitter, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok will start suspending accounts that won’t stop posting sexual contents.
Similarly, any platform that does not remove or block access to sexual contents may likely lose their operating rights.
Recall that recently, the Nigerian government banned Twitter from operating in Nigeria.
Although the government has lifted the ban, this recent order further shows the controlling tendency of the government.
Many stakeholders have argued that the Nigerian government wants to control and dictate to the interactive platforms.
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