The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has threatened to sue Nigeria's National Assembly over a proposed amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act [1].
The legal challenge centers on concerns that the legislation would grant the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) the authority to regulate or shut down social media platforms [1]. If passed, the amendment could provide a legal mechanism for the government to restrict digital communication, raising alarms about the future of internet freedom in the country [2].
SERAP said that the proposed changes could indirectly empower the government to stifle public discourse [1]. The group said that such a move would infringe upon the constitutional right to freedom of expression [2]. By empowering the NDPC with regulatory control over social media, the group said the bill creates a pathway for arbitrary shutdowns of platforms used by millions of citizens [3].
The rights organization has called on the National Assembly to drop the bill to avoid a protracted legal battle [3]. The dispute highlights a growing tension between state efforts to regulate data and the protection of civil liberties in the digital age [1].
Lagos-based SERAP has a history of challenging government policies that threaten human rights [3]. The group said the proposed amendment represents a step toward increased censorship under the guise of data protection [1].
“SERAP has threatened to sue the National Assembly over a proposed amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act.”
This legal threat underscores a critical conflict between national security or data regulation goals and the preservation of free speech. If the NDPC gains the power to shut down platforms, Nigeria could join a growing list of nations with centralized control over digital discourse, potentially chilling political dissent and transparency.
