Stakeholders in the digital media space have called for collaboration to tackle the emerging threats in the ecosystem, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI).
They spoke during a two-day online safety forum organised by Techsocietal, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that promotes digital rights.
The event, themed: ‘Digital Access, Accountable Platforms & Inclusive Regulation’, took place in Lagos.
The conference was attended by officials of the federal ministry of justice, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Meta, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), online experts, researchers, journalists, fact-checkers.
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In his keynote address, Gbenga Sesan, PIN’s executive director, said there is a need for collaboration among stakeholders for online safety and security while upholding the digital rights of citizens.
Sesan said digital safety, security, and rights are intrinsically intertwined, adding that all can be achieved if stakeholders cooperate and collaborate.
“What we must do is face the difficult task of making sure that human rights is a security issue, security is a human rights issue,” he said.
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“We can keep children safe; we can keep everyone safe online without disrespecting the rights of other citizens.”
Also speaking, Tope Ogundipe, executive director, Techsocietal, said there is a need for coordinated and urgent responses against the emerging threats of misinformation, algorithmic bias, child exploitation, and manipulative design.
Ogundipe said the evolving technological development must not come at the cost of user safety or human dignity.
“We are here to ensure that Africa’s growing digital public square remains open, inclusive, and secure for all,” she said.
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Ibukunoluwa Owa, an official of NDPB, said emerging online threats pose serious risks, adding that the trend of cloned images as well as manipulated video and audio clips has become widespread.
Owa said regulation has become very difficult in wake of evolving innovation of technological tools.
On her part, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, head, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) response unit, federal ministry of justice, said amendments to the existing laws are being made to ensure that emerging online threats are addressed.
The event also featured the launch of MyLawbrella2.0, the upgraded version of the digital tool, designed to connect dedicated technology lawyers, therapists, and counsellors, committed to safeguarding the digital rights of women and children.
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The tool also connects survivors of online attacks to lawyers and therapists who will offer pro-bono legal assistance.
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