More than 45 million internet users in Nigeria comprising the general public mostly are on the verge of losing their Internet privacy on every form of cyber-communication. As Nigeria marked Democracy Day on May 29, 2013, Paradigm Initiative released a Policy Brief via its official website titled “Nigeria: Making a Case for Enduring Internet Freedom” to present the gaping actions of the FG towards curtailing Internet Privacy.
Paradigm Initiative had earlier commenced an action to a FoI Request on the $40M Internet Surveillance Contract by Nigerian Federal Government. This is in connection with trending information revealing that Command and Control server for FinFisher, a product described by its distributor, Gamma International, as “Governmental IT Intrusion and Remote Monitoring Solutions” had been spotted in Nigeria.
Concerns about this state of intended abrogation of Internet Freedom by the FG compelled Paradigm Initiative Nigeria’s Executive Director, Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan, and Bankole Oluwafemi of TechCabal to release this imperative document with the purpose of promoting advocacy towards public freedom in the Cyberspace.
The brief raises pertinent issues concerning National Security and Internet Freedom, elaborates on scenarios and causes for concern, and also gives recommendations on the way forward. It draws analysis from the dawn of the democratic dispensation in the country to the contemporary administrative approach to Internet Freedom and the need for understanding the implications that could militate against our National Growth.
PIN’s COO, Mrs. Tope Ogundipe, explains why PIN is all out to promote Internet Freedom; “The absence of data privacy and lawful interception laws raises issues of possibility of grave abuse. A society in which perceived ‘enemies’ of the government could lose their fundamental rights in the name of ‘keeping Nigeria safe’ cannot be said to be free and democratic. It is in the interest of all concerned that the Internet surveillance and monitoring contract be annulled. Nigerians must also be sensitized to understand the (direct and indirect) implications of unchecked government access to the private data. Enduring Internet Freedom is in Nigeria’s best interest.”
If you would like more information about this topic or to view, download or share the Policy Brief, please visit here.
