Tech giants Google, Microsoft, and TikTok have removed more than 13.5 million Nigerian accounts from their platforms over breaches of online conduct rules, according to a government disclosure on Wednesday.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, confirmed that the accounts were shut down for spreading offensive material and contravening Nigeria’s Code of Practice for online platforms.
The action was detailed in the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, submitted by global interactive computer service providers to Nigerian regulators, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NITDA, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
According to the report, a staggering 58,909,112 offensive posts were taken down across platforms within the year. Out of this number, 754,629 were flagged as “registered complaints” while 420,439 contents, initially removed, were restored after user appeals.
Hajiya Umar commended the tech firms for showing commitment to Nigeria’s digital safety framework.
“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines,” she said.
She added, “The submission of these reports marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users.”
