As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the digital landscape, Nigeria has joined a worldwide regulatory push to ensure AI-generated images are developed and deployed responsibly.
The move was announced on Wednesday by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which confirmed that the country is collaborating with more than 60 data protection and privacy authorities across the globe to address the risks posed by synthetic media technologies.
According to the commission, the coordinated action was spearheaded by the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group under the Global Privacy Assembly, following growing concerns over the misuse of AI systems capable of generating highly realistic images and videos of identifiable individuals.
Regulators warned that such technologies have increasingly been exploited to produce deepfakes, non-consensual content, impersonations and other harmful materials, often targeting children and vulnerable persons.
Under the joint initiative, organisations developing or deploying AI tools are expected to implement strong privacy safeguards, ensure transparency in how these systems operate, and establish effective mechanisms for reporting and removing harmful content. Strict compliance with applicable data protection laws was also emphasised.
The NDPC noted that Nigeria’s involvement aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen data protection enforcement and promote ethical technology adoption across sectors.
Furthermore, the NDPC said the move reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to responsible AI use, with compliance audits to ensure organisations protect citizens’ privacy.
About the Author
