A report by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Tuesday disclosed that major digital companies, including Google, X, Microsoft, and TikTok, have taken down over 65 million content posts from their platforms in Nigeria after receiving complaints from users.
Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications & Media Relations at NITDA made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday.
The report, included in the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries 2023 compliance report, demonstrates the companies’ attempts to comply with Nigeria’s rules and regulations for controlling specific online content.
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The code, which was jointly released by the National Broadcasting Commission, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and NITDA, lays out precise rules for encouraging online safety and preventing the dissemination of dangerous content on digital platforms.
Data released by NITDA demonstrates that, overall, 65,853,581 content posts were removed from the four platforms following user flags.
Additionally, 4,125,283 complaints about hazardous information were filed by Nigerian users, which resulted in the removal of offending material and the termination of almost 12 million user accounts.
Following successful user appeals, an additional 379,433 pieces of content were re-uploaded, demonstrating that the platforms are attentive to user concerns and offer channels for content review.
NITDA commend Microsoft, Google, X and TikTok for adhering to Nigeria’s Code of Practice
NITDA praised the platforms for following the Code of Practice, which attempts to make Nigerians’ online experiences safer and more responsible in light of the growing significance of digital safety.
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It stated, “The National Information Technology Development Agency has commended Google, X, Microsoft, and TikTok for their compliance with the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries. The Code, which was issued jointly by the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Broadcasting Commission, and NITDA, outlines clear guidelines for promoting online safety and managing harmful content.”
It continued, “The 2023 compliance report provides valuable insight into the platform’s efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines. The highlight of the overall statistics across all the platforms includes the following: 4,125,283 registered complaints; and 65,853,581 content takedowns.”
“379,433 removed and re-uploaded content following an appeal by users; 12,099,633 closed and deactivated accounts,” it added.