A statement signed by NITDA spokesperson, Hadiza Umar, said
the new 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 on the digital ecosystem.”
The code requires Internet platforms to “register with the
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and appoint a designated country
representative to interface with Nigerian authorities.”
It also requires that they comply with all regulatory
demands and comply with all applicable tax obligations on its operations under
Nigerian law.
On content moderation, NITDA said Internet platforms must
“provide a comprehensive compliance mechanism to avoid publication of
prohibited contents and unethical behaviour on their platform.”
They must also “provide information to authorities on
harmful accounts, suspected botnets, troll groups, and other coordinated
disinformation networks and deleting any information that violates Nigerian law
within an agreed time.”
NITDA said the new rules were “developed in collaboration
with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC), as well as input from Interactive Computer Service Platforms
such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, and Tik Tok amongst
others.
“Other relevant stakeholders with peculiar knowledge in this
area were consulted such as Civil Society Organizations and expert groups. The
results of this consultations were duly incorporated into the Draft Code of
Practice.”
The draft Code of Practice notes that Internet platforms
must promptly obey court orders directing it to provide “information under its
domain or any assistance to any authorised government.”
It is not yet clear how the new rules will be implemented.
Nigeria suspended Twitter in June 2021 for several months
after the social media network deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Buhari administration has sought to pass more stringent
laws regulating Internet platforms, especially social media networks.