Increasing technology adoption begs for enforcement of data protection law

IFE OGUNFUWA examines the need for the
application of data privacy and protection law as technology
continues to disrupt industries and data gathering and analytics
deepen

Indeed, technology is disrupting traditional methods in various
sectors of the economy and delivering measurable impact to
people.

Experts in the country have attested to the impact of technology
on business operations, productivity and in the delivery of cost
savings to organisations.

In the financial services sector, fintechs are disrupting
payments, making it easy for people irrespective of location and
status to receive or make payments electronically.

Technology is definitely breaking down barriers and removing the
bottlenecks involved in accessing government services; offering
various platforms for communication and helping people to make
timely business decisions.

Speaking on the social and economic value of data and
technology, the Executive Director, Systemspecs, Remi Atanda,
argued that the impact of technology on a business was the real
value that should be considered when investing in technology.

He said, “Digital is a combination of many things. It is about
the impact technology makes through the combination of web, mobile,
social and video. If you look at all those things; in themselves,
they look ordinary but when you combine them and the power they
deliver, then you know it is a different thing entirely.

“Technology is no longer measured by the investment in the
technology but by the impact of the investment. It is not about how
much I have spent but how much I am able to get out of it. The
people are no longer buying computer and servers alone; they are
making leaner investment and greater impact.

In the business landscape, many are not taking advantage of the
opportunities that digital presents; maybe because many are still
stuck in the traditional ways of doing things.”

Despite the benefits of emerging technologies, experts say
threats to security and privacy of individuals, government and
private organisations will thrive.

While announcing the plans of the government to deploy 5G
network by 2020, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian
Communications Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta, said threats to
security and privacy would increase.

As such, he said the commission would develop policies that
would address existing and new threats.

Danbatta said, “There are additional regulations that will be
required, especially regulations on security and privacy because
there are challenges associated with 5G.

“There are challenges that will make people to hesitate about
patronising the services driven by technology especially issues of
social vices, security and privacy. The same challenges we are
struggling to contain will multiply when we embrace 5G
services.

“When we have a new technology, we don’t need to wait very long
to see the negative side of that technology manifesting; it is the
same with 5G. We have seen the level of financial fraud in the
country go up.

“We have seen how hate speeches, anonymous, inflammatory and at
times derogatory, are going to unbelievable levels. These will fade
in proportion to what we are going to see with 5G services. So we
need to get ready.”

In the developed countries, a breach in data privacy laws landed
prominent organisation fines and prosecution and business
reputation as can be seen in the case of Facebook.

However, in Nigeria and most developing countries, experts note
that people’s personal data are often passed to third parties
without their consent.

According to them, not much is being said about the protection
of data gathered during the use of technology.

An Information Technology expert, Mrs Titilola Akinlade, said
the input of the government, ICT regulatory agencies, security
agencies, local and international businesses operating in Nigeria,
human rights advocates, academia in the relevant fields, legal
luminaries, trade unions and individuals should be sought when
drafting a data protection law.

She noted that the data privacy and protection law contained in
the Nigerian Constitution, NCC’s Consumer Code of Practice
Regulations 2007, the National Information Technology Development
Agency’s Draft Guidelines on Data Protection and the Child’s Right
Act, were often breached.

Akinlade noted that the telecoms regulator overreached the
number of information collected during SIM card registration as
most were not needed, providing avenues for information breach.

“The NCC’s code of conduct is often breached. If it is enforced,
it not only protects Nigerians, but everyone with a Nigerian SIM
card. Network operators collect local government information during
SIM registration but the information is not used to improve their
local government,” she said.

According to her, the country urgently needs data protection
regulation that ensures that people’s personal information is used
accurately, fairly and lawfully for limited, specifically stated
purposes, in a way that is adequate and relevant.

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