2023: CITAD urges INEC, others to protect citizens data, privacy during, after elections
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other governmental agencies to ensure the protection of citizens data, privacy and respect of their rights online during and after the 2023 general elections.
Ali Sabo, Digital Rights Officer, CITAD, made the call at a news conference on Thursday in Kano.
According to him the call is necessary because there is genuine information that government agencies have purchased surveillance systems to track and monitor people, most especially activists, journalists, opponents and those they consider threat to their interests.
He said that as Civil Society actors, the centre consider this as a threat to not only the fundamental human rights of the citizens but to democracy as this exposes citizens to privacy abuse.
“Gentlemen of the press, I would like to on behalf of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) welcome you to this important press conference being organized to draw the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its sisters government agencies such as National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, National Human Rights Commission.”
“And all the security agencies in the country to ensure the protection of citizens data, privacy and respect of their rights online during and after the 2023 general elections. Gentlemen of the press, it is important to note that the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms has clearly spelled out that the freedom and privacy of individual online is of upmost importance and must be protected. These rights correspond to the fundamental rights provided in the Declaration on Human Rights as Freedom of Expression, Right to Information, Freedom of Assembly and Association as well as the right to personal privacy and dignity.”
“The UN has recognized the right to Internet as fourth generation rights. The right to Internet as means to access these offline rights has at its core the issues of Privacy and Personal Data Protection. Any breach of the above is a negation to Nigerian commitment to Human Rights as well as other international covenants on human rights, including the African Charter and Peoples and Human Rights. ”
“If you could recall, in presidential and national assembly elections which is being held on the 25th of February, 2023 sad incidences happened in some part of the country, where reported cases of intimidation, harassment and malfunctioning of elections materials such as Biomodal Accreditation System (BVAS) were recorded.”
“This month’s press conference is necessary at this time looking at what has happened in the presidential and national assembly elections. It is imperative for us as an organization working on the area of upholding electoral integrity, human rights and digital rights in Nigeria to draw the attention of all the stakeholders, especially security agencies and those who have citizens’ data in their custody, on the importance of protecting and safeguarding the rights of the Nigerian citizens, both online and offline and ensuring that their data is safe and not be misused or
“Consequently, we would like to call the attention of the following stakeholders to as a matter of public interest and upholding electoral integrity in the country.”
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the protection and confidentiality of the people’s mandate and not allow anybody to temper with it, and also INEC should ensure that all the election electronic materials such BVAS are in good condition in order to avoid what happened in the presidential and national assembly election.”
“INEC to ensure the early delivery of election materials to polling units across the country, INEC should ensure all election results are being uploaded to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) as stipulated in the 2022 Electoral Act.”
“The Nigeria Police Force to desist from being used by politicians to intimidate voters, journalists and election observers during the election.”
He also, urged security agencies to ensure the protection of election infrastructure as well as telecommunication infrastructure in order to have smooth transmission of election results without any compromise in the country.
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