Nigerian Government Warns Content Creators Over Unauthorized Filming of People in Public

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission has issued a warning to content creators who record and publish videos of unsuspecting individuals in public spaces, stating that such actions could lead to legal consequences under Nigeria’s data protection and privacy laws.

In a statement released on March 13, the commission expressed concern over the growing trend of filming people in public places—particularly in Lagos—for social media content without their knowledge or consent.

According to the regulator, the practice raises significant privacy concerns and may violate provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 as well as Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which guarantees citizens the right to privacy.

The commission explained that recording individuals in public settings for entertainment or “reality-style” online content could amount to the unlawful processing of personal data. This is especially the case when the individuals being filmed are unaware of the recording and have no reasonable expectation that their images or identities will be shared across social media platforms.

Officials pointed to a specific case involving a content creator who reportedly records unsuspecting pedestrians along roadsides in Lagos and posts the videos online for social media engagement. The commission described such activities as a potential abuse of citizens’ privacy rights in the pursuit of entertainment or viral content.

The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Vincent Olatunji, has also called on major social media platforms to strengthen their enforcement of community standards to prevent misuse of personal data.

Platforms mentioned by the commission include TikTok, X and services operated by Meta.

The NDPC stated that both individual content creators and social media companies could face sanctions if they fail to prevent or remove content that violates the privacy rights of Nigerians. Depending on the severity of the breach, penalties could include regulatory sanctions or criminal prosecution.

Authorities say the warning is intended to protect citizens from having their personal images or information used without permission, while also reminding digital creators to respect privacy laws as the online content industry continues to expand in Nigeria.