Nigeria Govt shuts down over 13 million social media accounts

The Nigerian government has closed approximately 13,597,057 social media accounts for offensive content and violations of the country’s Code of Practice. The affected accounts spanned platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

The disclosure came from the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, submitted by promoters of interactive computer service platforms such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

The report, titled “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ Efforts on Online Harm Protection”, provides an overview of the platforms’ efforts to enforce user safety measures.

The Code of Practice was jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

According to Hadiza Umar, spokesperson for NITDA, a total of 58,909,112 offensive contents were removed across platforms, while 754,629 complaints were registered by users. Additionally, 420,439 pieces of content that were removed were later reinstated following successful appeals.

Umar commended platforms such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for their compliance with the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries. She emphasized that the reports provide insights into efforts to enhance user safety in line with the platforms’ community guidelines.

“The submission of these reports marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users,” Umar stated.

“We remain committed to working with industry players, civil society, and regulatory partners to further strengthen user safety measures, enhance digital literacy, and promote trust and transparency in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”