Yet as our digital footprint grows, so too do the risks. Cybercrime, data breaches, online harassment, misinformation, and technology-facilitated abuse are no longer abstract threats.

They are lived realities. This moment calls for a serious strengthening of Nigeria’s digital safety laws; beyond what currently exists to protect citizens and build trust in the digital ecosystem.

Nigeria is not starting from zero. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act) was a landmark law that expanded legal protections against physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse. Importantly, the Act recognizes forms of harassment, intimidation, and harmful conduct that can occur through electronic means. In theory, this provides a legal basis for addressing certain online abuses.

In practice, however, the VAPP Act was not designed for today’s complex digital environment, and that limitation is increasingly evident.

One major gap is scope. The VAPP Act treats online abuse largely as an extension of offline violence, rather than as a distinct category with its own dynamics.

Technology-facilitated harms such as coordinated cyberbullying, doxxing, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, deepfake abuse, algorithm-driven amplification of harassment, and large-scale disinformation campaigns fall into legal grey areas. Victims are often forced to stretch existing provisions to fit harms the law never anticipated.

Another gap is clarity and accessibility. Many Nigerians experiencing online abuse do not know whether the VAPP Act applies to their situation, where to report digital harm, or which agency has jurisdiction.

This uncertainty discourages reporting and leaves victims; particularly women, journalists, activists, and young people without effective remedies.

A digital safety framework should offer clear definitions, reporting pathways, and timelines for action. The VAPP Act, as currently structured, does not provide this clarity for online contexts.

There is also a significant enforcement gap. Even where the VAPP Act could apply to online harm, enforcement is weak. Law enforcement agencies often lack training in digital evidence preservation, platform data requests, and cyber investigations.

Cases involving online abuse are slow, inconsistently handled, or quietly abandoned. A law that cannot be effectively enforced offers little protection, no matter how well intentioned it is.

Perhaps most critically, the VAPP Act does not adequately address platform responsibility. Modern digital harm is rarely caused by individuals alone; it is often enabled or amplified by platform design choices, weak moderation systems, and opaque algorithms.

Nigeria’s legal framework places minimal obligations on technology companies to prevent harm, respond quickly to reports, or design safer digital spaces. Without clear duties and penalties for non-compliance, platforms have little incentive to prioritize user safety.

Child online protection further exposes the limits of existing laws. While the VAPP Act criminalizes abuse, it does not provide a comprehensive framework for preventing children’s exposure to harmful content, online grooming, or exploitation on digital platforms.

Stronger, child-specific digital safety standards; combined with public education, are urgently needed.

Strengthening Nigeria’s digital safety laws, therefore, does not mean discarding the VAPP Act. It means building on it. Nigeria needs a modern, dedicated digital safety framework that works alongside existing criminal and human rights laws. Such a framework should clearly define technology-facilitated harms, establish platform obligations, protect personal data, prioritize child safety, and equip institutions with the tools to enforce the law effectively; while safeguarding freedom of expression.

Crucially, these reforms must be developed through inclusive consultation with civil society, legal experts, journalists, technology companies, and everyday users. Laws written without stakeholder input risk being either toothless or dangerously overbroad.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. We can continue trying to force 21st-century digital harms into 20th-century legal frameworks, or we can acknowledge the limits of existing laws and act decisively. The VAPP Act was a milestone; but it was never meant to be the final word on digital safety.

A safer digital Nigeria will not emerge by accident. It will be built through deliberate, thoughtful reform; one that recognizes that online harm is real harm, and that citizens deserve protection wherever they exist, including online.

*Olasupo Abideen is the co-founder of HerSafeSpace Initiative and TFGBV enthusiast.
Please send comments and feedback to abideenolasupo@gmail.com. He tweets @opegoogle.

The post Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Safety Laws – Why the VAPP Act is not Enough appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Cyberbullying is the use of the Internet to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature, especially on social media.

While hate speech is abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice against a particular group, especially on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation.

The Nigerian government had come up with the Code of Practice in collaboration with relevant Regulatory Agencies and Stakeholders.

Other relevant stakeholders with peculiar knowledge in this area were consulted, such as Civil Society Organizations and expert groups. The results of these consultations were duly incorporated into the Draft Code of Practice.

The new codes demand accountability from Online Platforms regarding unlawful and harmful content on their Platforms, while establishing a robust framework for collaborative efforts to protect Nigerians against online harms, such as hate speech, cyberbullying, as well as disinformation, and/or misinformation.

Also, the guidelines mirror how to interact on digital ecosystems like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, TikTok, and other social media platforms in the country.

According to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the new rules are aimed at protecting the fundamental human rights of Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in the country.

The Code of Practice is in line with international best practices as obtainable in democratic nations such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Nations.

NITDA said it is an intervention to recalibrate the relationship of online platforms with Nigerians in order to maximize mutual benefits for our nation while promoting a sustainable digital economy.

“Additionally, the Code of Practice sets out procedures to safeguard the security and welfare of Nigerians while interacting on these platforms. It aims to demand accountability from online platforms regarding unlawful and harmful content on their platforms. 

The post FG’s Code of Practice will Address Hate Speech, Cyberbullying appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The speaker made this known on Thursday at a press conference on pressing national issues held at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

He said the intention of the leg­islation is not to stifle free speech but to protect the dignity of indi­viduals and institutions against cyberattacks.

He said Nigerians must be wary of slander against officials of gov­ernment, stressing that unscrupu­lous persons have, of late, launched campaigns of calumny against top government officials.

He stated that as Nigerians nav­igate through “these tumultuous times,” the importance of unity and constructive engagement could not be overstated, stressing that the syn­ergy between the three arms of the government – executive, legislative, and judiciary – is paramount.

He said,

“For this reason, I call on every citizen to engage in pos­itive and constructive criticism. Your voices and opinions are in­valuable, providing the compass that guides our actions and policies. At this juncture, ladies and gentle­men of the press, as the speaker of the House of Representatives, my colleagues and I invite Nigerians to engage critically with us on im­portant national issues. In fact, we encourage and welcome criticisms, but these must be constructive and targeted at building national unity and cohesion and advancing devel­opment.

“However, while we encourage freedom of expression and con­structive dialogue, we must also be wary of the dangers of fake news and campaigns of slander and defamation, especially against the president and senior government officials.”

The speaker noted that there had been a rise in defamation cam­paigns on social media involving the deliberate dissemination of false and misleading information with the intent to harm the repu­tation of individuals or organisa­tions.

According to him, these cam­paigns often target political oppo­nents, seeking to undermine their credibility, integrity, and public trust.

The speaker cited the recent case of “unjustified and baseless allegations” against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, which he warned “point to the danger of an unfettered and unaccountable social media.”

Abbas cited his predecessor and current Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as one of the many victims of cyber­bullying, defamation and character assassination.

The speaker said cyberbullying is punishable, according to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, and Section 24 of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act (2015).

He stated,

“Such acts not only undermine the integrity of our de­mocracy but also erode the fabric of our national unity. Yet, Femi is just one of millions of Nigerians who suffer cyber bullying and coordinat­ed campaigns of defamation daily. Too many victims are not as pow­erful as him to defend themselves.

“Those of us who have worked with him for over a decade can at­test to his patriotism and integrity. His willingness to voluntarily sub­ject himself to investigation by all security and law enforcement agen­cies demonstrates his rectitude and honour. I urge the security agencies to work diligently and swiftly to in­vestigate all matters he has raised in his letter to them and inform Nigerians of their findings. If not found guilty, these agencies must fish out those responsible for the character assassination and ensure they are brought before the law.” (Independent)

The post HoR Moves to Checkmate Cyberbullying appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

“We understand the importance of ensuring the safety of our youth in today’s digital world. Even though the Internet is important to supplement education, interact with friends and family and have fun, it is also dangerous due to the ongoing threat of cyberbullying. By equipping children and their parents with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves online, we are empowering them to more securely navigate the digital world with confidence,”

says Brandon Muller, technology expert and consultant for the MEA region at Kaspersky.

Here are ten (10) tips from Kaspersky to stop cyberbullying:

1 Be aware of online activity: 

Always monitor the sites, apps, and platforms you use. Understand the privacy policies and what content is appropriate to share.

2. Privacy settings: 

Always make use of privacy settings on social media platforms and apps. These settings can control who sees your posts and personal information.

3. Think before you post: 

Remember that the Internet is permanent. Even if you have deleted a post, comment, photo, or video, malicious users can still find it. If you are not comfortable with your parents or others seeing what you post, then it is best not to do so.

4. Strong passwords: 

Use complex and unique passwords for all of your accounts to prevent hacking. Never share your passwords with anyone.

5. Report and block bullies: 

Most platforms have tools for reporting abusive behaviour and blocking individuals. If at any time you feel threatened or harassed, use these tools to block and report those cyberbullies.

6. Don’t feed the trolls: 

Often, the situation only gets worse if you engage with bullies or other trolls online. They are looking for a reaction, even more so if you start being intimidated by them. Rather ignore, report and block them, and alert your parents.

7. Keep evidence: 

Always keep a record of your communications with these cyberbullies. Take screen shots before they can delete their conversations/thread. If things escalate, this evidence can be helpful for parents, teachers, or the relevant authorities.

8. Reach out for help: 

Do not feel alone when it comes to cyberbullying. Talk to someone you trust about what is happening. Reach out to your parents, teachers, or your school guidance counsellor. They can provide you with support and help you take the appropriate course of action.

9. Educate yourself and help others: 

Being forewarned is being forearmed. The best thing to do is to use online resources to teach yourself about cyberbullying, identifying the signs, and even how it can impact your personal life. Show your friends and family to help keep them safe as well.

10. Install reliable security software: 

For example, the Kaspersky Safe Kids all-in-one app for digital parenting and family wellbeing makes parent control easy at an affordable price. With this solution, parents can monitor their children online and offline through things like GSP tracking and getting reports of their online activities.

It also hides inappropriate content with Web filtering and Safe Search options while preventing specific apps and Web sites from being opened.

Kaspersky Safe Kids solution is also available within Kaspersky Premium subscription – those purchasing it till June 22^nd can benefit from getting a 33% discount due to a current Cyber promo campaign.

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