The Federal Government has warned social media content creators against filming unsuspecting Nigerians in public places without their consent, cautioning that offenders could face criminal prosecution.
The warning was issued by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which said the growing trend of recording people on the streets and sharing the footage online for entertainment violates citizens’ privacy rights under Nigerian law.
In a statement released by the commission, the regulator said it had received reports of individuals taking pictures or videos of members of the public without their knowledge and uploading the content to social media platforms. According to the agency, such actions amount to unlawful processing of personal data.
The NDPC stressed that recording and publishing images of people without permission infringes on the right to privacy guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
The commission cited a recent case involving a content creator who reportedly positioned herself along roadsides in Lagos to film unsuspecting passers-by for what she described as a “reality show,” later posting the footage online. Preliminary findings by the regulator indicated that the practice served neither a legitimate public interest nor any lawful basis for data processing.
According to the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, individuals featured in such recordings have the right to determine how their personal data, including images and videos are collected and used.
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The commission also directed major social media platforms, including TikTok, X, and Meta Platforms, to strengthen enforcement of their community guidelines to curb privacy violations.
It warned that platform operators that fail to act promptly on complaints related to such content could face regulatory sanctions under Nigeria’s data protection laws. At the same time, individual content creators responsible for the recordings may also be prosecuted if found to have breached citizens’ privacy rights.
The NDPC emphasized that while digital content creation continues to grow rapidly in Nigeria’s creative economy, creators must operate within the bounds of the law and respect the privacy and dignity of members of the public.
