The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has cautioned content creators across Nigeria to respect the privacy rights of citizens and avoid filming or sharing images of individuals without their consent.
In a press release dated March 13, 2026, the commission said it had received reports of individuals taking pictures and recording videos of unsuspecting members of the public and posting such content on social media platforms for entertainment.
According to the commission, such actions violate the rights of citizens to informational self-determination as guaranteed under Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
The commission specifically referenced a case involving a content creator in Lagos who allegedly records unsuspecting members of the public along roadsides for a “reality show” style content, raising serious concerns about abuse of privacy in the name of entertainment.
Speaking on the development, the National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, directed social media platforms to strengthen enforcement of their community guidelines to prevent harm caused by unlawful processing of personal data.
“Processing the images of people in this circumstance requires consent unless the creator can justify her actions under other lawful bases of data processing,” the commission stated.
It added that preliminary investigations showed the invasion of citizens’ privacy in the case under review served neither a public interest nor any legitimate purpose.
The commission also warned that platform owners such as TikTok, X, and Meta Platforms must step up enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
NDPC further stressed that individual content creators could face sanctions or criminal prosecution if found guilty of violating citizens’ privacy rights.
“Individual content creators are accountable for their acts and omissions and may be liable to criminal prosecution for violating the privacy rights of citizens and other data subjects in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The press release was signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at the commission.
