NDPC Cautions Content Creators Over Recording People Without Consent
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has warned content creators against recording unsuspecting members of the public and posting such footage online without their permission, describing the practice as a breach of privacy rights.
The Commission’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye, issued the warning on Friday in Abuja. He expressed concern about individuals who record videos of people in public spaces, such as roadsides, and later use the clips for online “reality shows” or social media content without the subjects’ consent.
According to Bamigboye, such actions infringe on citizens’ right to informational self-determination as protected under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
He explained that capturing and processing images or videos of individuals without their approval is unlawful unless the content creator can justify it under other recognised legal grounds for data processing.
“Our preliminary findings show that this deliberate invasion of privacy does not serve any legitimate or public interest,” he said.
Bamigboye added that individuals whose images are recorded in such situations do not expect that their photos or videos will be shared worldwide by unknown persons on the internet.
Meanwhile, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has directed major social media platforms, including TikTok, X, and Meta, to strengthen enforcement of their community guidelines in order to prevent unlawful use of personal data.
He warned that any platform that fails to take timely action to prevent such violations could face sanctions under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
Bamigboye also stressed that content creators themselves could be held accountable and may face criminal prosecution for violating citizens’ privacy rights.
