FG Confirms 13.5m Nigerian Accounts Deleted by TikTok, Google, Microsoft Over Offensive Content
- Tech companies and social media platforms have deleted over 13 million accounts belonging to Nigerians
- The accounts were deleted across Microsoft, TikTok, and Google, and were said to have contained posts that violated Nigeria’s Code of Practice
- According to the National Technology Development Agency, 58,909,112 offensive contents were deleted from the platforms
Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.
Tech companies, including Microsoft, TikTok, and Google, have shut down about 13,597,057 accounts belonging to Nigerians from the platforms.
The Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, National Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Hajiya Hadiza Umar, said the accounts were deleted for offensive content and for violating Nigeria’s online code of conduct practice.
Source: Getty Images
Google, TikTok, Microsoft submit reports to FG
The platforms’ actions were contained in a Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report sent to the government by promoters of interactive service platforms like Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, and others.
According to reports, the Compliance report shows social media platforms’ efforts on online harm protection, and was issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NITDA, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Over 58,000 contents deleted
Channels Television reported that the NITDA spokeswoman said that a total of 58,909,112 offensive contents were deleted from the platforms.
She praised the platforms for their continued compliance with the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries, noting that 754,629 complaints had been lodged.
According to Umar, 420,439 contents were removed and re-uploaded after appeals by users.
NITDA praises the tech firms
“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines,” she said.
She stated that the submission of those reports is a significant step towards maintaining a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerians.
It also shows the platforms’ commitment to ensuring a secure and trustworthy online environment for everyone.
The NITDA mouthpiece disclosed that the achievement demonstrates the implementation of the Code of Practice, which mandates big tech companies to be registered in Nigeria and comply with relevant laws, including tax payment, while reinforcing a commitment to online safety.
She said:
“While NITDA acknowledges these commendable efforts, we emphasise that building a safer digital space requires sustained collaboration and engagement among all stakeholders.
“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.”
Analysts divided over FG’s action
Meanwhile, Analysts are divided over the actions of the platform. While some hail the move as wholesome and protective of Nigerians on social media, others say it borders on censorship and infringes on freedom of expression as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.
Social affairs commentator, financial analyst and co-host of Get Involved, Nigeria’s social affairs programme on YouTube, said the actions of the platforms are commendable because they provide sanity on social media and public platforms.
“There is much hate out there perpetuated by people claiming to be exercising their freedom of expression. I believe the actions of the platforms, which I understand was ordered by the federal government, were in order and ensures online safety,” he said.
However, Osas Igho, a financial analyst and social critic, said that the move borders on clamping down on freedom of speech and expression.
“This is pure censorship by the platforms and the Nigerian government. I am not sure these accounts were in violations of rights of anyone. We are talking millions of accounts being taken down and thousands of contents removed,” he said.
A previous report by Legit.ng disclosed that TikTok, the popular short-form video platform owned by Bytedance, announced the deletion of 1.7 million videos from Nigerian users in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The platform attributed this action to violations of its Community Guidelines, noting Nigeria's presence among the top 50 countries for such policy breaches during Q4.
Source: Getty Images
The development comes amid the platform's legislative issues with the United States government.
FG cracks down on unregistered online adverts
Legit.ng earlier reported that to protect Nigerians from falling prey to fake and unregistered schemes, the federal government has given a new directive.
Social media influencers, content creators and others will now be required to secure an important approval before they can run their ads on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and others.
This approval will be secured from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
