FG, TikTok Collaborate on Data Transparency, Online Safety
TECHDIGEST – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has called for the need to entrench transparency, laws, and regulations in social media usage to ensure a safer digital space, devoid of illegalities and promoters of fake news.
Pantami said this when a delegation of video-focused social networking service, TikTok, visited him in Abuja.
Represented by the Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the minister raised several concerns bordering on security, tax payment, direct contact with TikTok, and general content hygiene.
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“There is a need for you to be more transparent on what you do with the data, experience you take, and your algorithm design; because technology can be used as a weapon or a tool. So, we cannot continue to have people put out random contents without appropriate checks/verifications”.
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He, therefore, emphasised the fact that there should be consequences for anyone who uses social media to commit a crime, adding that “We are working on drafting “Code of Practice”, which we are going to share with you soon; get your feedback and see how we can make it better.”
The leader of the TikTok delegation and Head of Government Relations and Public Policy, TikTok- Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan, Farah Tukan, said the team intends to host a series of workshops in Abuja and Lagos with the aim of enlightening Nigerians on how the platform works, how contents are moderated, developed, and are enforced.
“We are committed to providing opportunities for Nigerians to earn a living through their creativity and expression, and as a global platform that thrives on creativity, it is essential that our users feel safe and comfortable online’’.
