Following Nigeria’s first Content Moderation (CM) and Online Safety Summit, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API) published a white paper on the framework for an Online Harms Protection (OHP) Bill in Nigeria (the White Paper).
The White Paper emphasises the prevalence of online harms and threats, proposes a shift from the current CM-centered approach towards a duty-of-care ethos, stakeholder partnership, and coordinated framework that guarantees citizens’ rights while shielding society from the harms of the internet. The White Paper further analyses efforts by several jurisdictions in combating online harms, proposing strategies that are best suited for Nigerian peculiarities.
With the White Paper, NITDA and API intends to spark a national dialogue on OHP which will shape and guide policy development in creating an effective legal framework on OHP and encourage stakeholder participation.
Executive Summary of the White Paper
The White Paper identifies the challenges of online harms and the importance of CM while preserving digital rights. It also identifies the inadequacies of conventional CM practices and the lack of consistency and transparency of self-regulatory measures to address these practices, which often lead to accusations of bias and censorship. Furthermore, the White Paper highlights that automated systems of CM usually struggle with language and local nuances, which results in over- or under-moderation. It also notes that human moderators face a psychological toll while reviewing disturbing content.
The White Paper examines the pros and cons of both Artificial Intelligence (AI) moderation and human moderation and proposes a hybrid CM mechanism that combines the benefits of both AI and human moderation for effective and efficient CM practices and quality.
Further, the White Paper proposes a legal framework specifically for OHP that moves from the conventional CM approach to a proactive model of OHP. This framework emphasises citizen protection through a co-regulatory and “duty-of-care” model. The White Paper proposes an OHP Bill that focuses on a multi-stakeholder, participatory, and inclusive approach to address the challenges posed by online harm, safeguarding digital rights while reflecting Nigeria’s unique digital realities.
Conclusion
As digital technologies continue to evolve, strengthening the safety and privacy of Nigeria’s digital space will be vital in ensuring OHP in Nigeria.
The White Paper is a good step towards tackling and mitigating harmful content, ensuring a safe environment, promoting transparency and accountability, protecting vulnerable populations, and promoting freedom of expression. It reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and rights of the digital space.
While the strategies set out in the Whitepaper to achieve a regulatory framework for OHP are laudable, there remain areas of improvement that should be featured in the OHP Bill when eventually issued, some of which have been highlighted in this article.
Read this article below.