Introduction
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) recently hosted a webinar
titled "The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Rights in Nigeria: Challenges and
Prospects."The session featured insights from experts from regulatory bodies, legal defenders
and digital rights advocates who explored the multifaceted relationship between Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and digital rights within the Nigerian context. The discussion featured the
impact of AI as a transformative technology on digital rights in Nigeria,it also raises critical
concerns regarding privacy, data protection, misinformation, disinformation, algorithm bias and
surveillance, it equally looked into the opportunities AI presents to development, as well as the
potential risks it poses to privacy, surveillance, and digital inclusion.
Key Themes and Insights
1. Opportunities Presented by AI
Economic Growth: The integration of AI can stimulate economic development by fostering
innovation, creating new job opportunities, and improving efficiency across various industries as
a result,transform and better human life altogether.
Enhanced Service Delivery: AI has the potential to improve public service delivery in all sectors
such as healthcare, education, and agriculture by enabling data-driven decision-making.
2. Risks and Challenges
Privacy Concerns: The deployment of AI technologies, particularly in surveillance, raises
significant privacy issues. Without robust data protection laws, citizens' personal information
may be collected and used without consent.
Algorithmic Bias: AI systems trained on biased data can perpetuate and even worsen existing
societal inequalities, leading to discriminatory outcomes in areas like recruitment, lending, and
law enforcement.
Lack of Regulatory Frameworks: Nigeria currently lacks comprehensive legal frameworks to
govern the ethical use of AI, where the laws are in existence, they are not quite applicable and
the populace are unaware of such laws.
3. Impact on Digital Rights
Freedom of Expression: AI driven content moderation tools may inadvertently suppress free
speech, especially if algorithms are not transparent or accountable.
Access to Information: The use of AI in controlling information flow can lead to censorship,
limiting diverse perspectives and informed public discourse.
Digital Inclusion: underserved communities may be further excluded if AI solutions are not
designed with inclusivity in mind, intensifying the digital divide.
Questions and Answers from the Discussion
How can Nigeria balance AI innovation with the protection of digital rights?
The speakers emphasized the need for a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, civil
society, and the private sector to develop and implement ethical guidelines and regulatory
frameworks that ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and transparently.
What role does public awareness play in safeguarding digital rights in the age of AI?
Raising public awareness is crucial. Educating citizens about their digital rights and the
implications empowers them to demand accountability and participate in policy dialogues.
What role should AI play in enhancing cybersecurity in Nigeria without infringing on digital
rights?
AI should serve as an augmentative tool in Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape, helping to detect
threats, prevent breaches, and automate responses to cyberattacks without violating the digital
rights of citizens. However, this must be carefully balanced with respect for digital rights,
particularly the Right to privacy.
What legal protections currently exist in Nigeria to safeguard citizens from AI surveillance
technologies, and how effective are they?
As of now, Nigeria has limited but evolving legal protections for digital rights in the AI
context.The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 is the most prominent legal instrument. While
Nigeria has made progress with the NDPA, but existing legal protections are not yet robust enough
to safeguard against the misuse of AI surveillance technologies. Strengthening enforcement,
increasing public awareness, and introducing AI-specific digital rights legislation should be
the next urgent steps.
Recommendations
1. Develop Comprehensive AI Policies: The Nigerian government should formulate clear
policies that outline the ethical use of AI, data protection standards, and accountability
mechanisms.
2. Strengthen Legal Frameworks: Existing laws should be reviewed and updated to address the
unique challenges posed by AI, ensuring they provide adequate protection for digital rights.
3. Promote Inclusive AI Development: Stakeholders should ensure that AI systems are
designed to be inclusive, taking into account the needs and contexts of diverse user groups to
prevent posing inequalities.
4. Enhance Public Engagement: Initiatives should be launched to educate the public about AI
and digital rights, creating a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Conclusion
The intersection of AI and digital rights in Nigeria poses both significant opportunities and challenges. While AI can drive progress and innovation, it also poses risks to privacy, equality,
and freedom of expression. Addressing these issues requires effort from all stakeholders to
develop ethical, inclusive, and rights-respecting AI policies and practices.
