The new policy, according to government which came into
force on May 15th this year, grantsWhatsApp the right to share users’ data with
Facebook and its companies.
The source further noted the new policy also allows Whatsapp
users the liberty to decide whether to give out consent to processing of their
data.
According to a statement on Tuesday by NITDA Head of
Corporate Affairs and External Relations Hadiza Umar, data to be collected and
shared would include: account information; messages (including undelivered
messages, media forwarding); connections; status information; transactions and
payments data; usage and log information; device and connection information;
location information; and cookies.
Others were: battery level; signal strength; app version;
browser information; mobile network; connection information (including phone
number, mobile operator or ISP), language and time zone; Internet Protocol
address; device operations information and social media identifiers.
Although Facebook, in response to inquires by NITDA on the
new policy, had confirmed that private messages shared on WhatsApp consumer
version were encrypted and not seen by the company, the metadata (data about
the usage of the service), which are also personal information, would be shared
with other members of the its subsidiaries.
These data, according to Facebook, would be shared with its
companies to further enhance, “operate, provide, improve, understand,
customize, support, and market our services and their offerings, including the
Facebook Company Products.”
NITDA, however, called on Nigerians to limit the sharing of
sensitive personal information on private messaging and social media platforms
as the initial promise of privacy and security was now being overridden on the
basis of business exigency.
“Nigerians may wish to note that there are other available
platforms with similar functionalities which they may wish to explore. Choice
of platform should consider data sharing practices, privacy, ease of use among
others.”
According to the statement, NITDA noted that it was engaging
with Facebook to find a better way of protecting the data of Nigerians.
“We have given them our opinion on areas to improve
compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). We have also raised
concerns as to the marked difference between the privacy standard applicable in
Europe, under the GDPR and the rest of the world.
“Given the foregoing and other emerging issues around
international technology companies, NITDA, with stakeholders, is exploring all
options to ensure Nigerians do not become victims of digital colonialism. Our
national security, dignity and individual privacy are cherished considerations
we must not lose.”
It added that it would work with the Federal Ministry of
Communications and Digital Economy to organise a hackathon for Nigerians to
pitch solutions that could provide services offering functional alternatives to
existing global social platforms.
Footnote: We learnt also about government planned to stop
usage of social media platforms to negative talks or criticising government
activities.
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