Nigerian Government Engages Facebook on Whatsapp Updated Privacy Policy

Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has directed the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA to look into the updated Privacy Policy of the WhatsApp messaging application and ensure that it strictly adheres to the provisions of the  Nigeria Data Protection Regulations (NDPR).

Facebook recently came up with the   Whatsapp privacy policy that allows access to users information with other Facebook companies. WhatsApp specifically  indicated that users who refuse to accept their revised privacy policy risk not being able to use the service at all.

 
A concerned Nigerian government wants  to engage with Facebook to understand the processes, level of security of the data of Nigerian users in order to ensure that Policies proposed for Nigeria strictly adhere to the provisions of Nigerian Data Policy Regulation, NDPR.

A signed statement issued by the Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi Adeluyi assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will pay close attention to the privacy of their data, in line with the NDPR and the National Digital Economy Policy for a Digital Nigeria.


The statement reads:

“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been brought to the updated Privacy Policy of the WhatsApp messaging application.

“The Policy states that WhatsApp will share information about the users on their platform with their parent company (Facebook), as well as other Facebook companies. The information includes user phone numbers, “transaction data, service-related information, information on how you interact with others (including businesses) when using our Services, mobile device information, your IP address”.

“Furthermore, WhatsApp has indicated that users who refuse to accept their revised privacy policy risk not being able to use the service at all.

“The Federal Government released the Nigeria Data Protection Regulations (NDPR) in 2019 and is committed to upholding the data privacy of Nigerians. We are also aware that the European region is exempt from the provisions of the updated Policy and it is also being challenged in a number of countries. “The Minister has therefore directed the National Information Technology Development Agency