Digital rights are often discussed like they exist away from human rights; they do not. They are simply human rights expressed in digital spaces. The right to privacy, freedom of expression, and civic participation offline must be translated online. When people are exposed to various forms of harm on the internet, it is a violation of their human rights.
Nigeria is home to Africa’s largest population of internet users, yet millions remain unsafe online. According to the State of Online Harms Report, at least 1-in-2 Nigerians have faced some form of online harassment, from cyberbullying and misinformation to sexual exploitation
In addition to that, alarms have been raised over Nigeria’s growing data insecurity. In 2025, it was reported that personal data belonging to thousands of citizens, including public officials, had been leaked and sold online[2]. These incidents underscore how poor digital accountability continues to threaten the very essence of privacy and trust online. Hence, protecting digital rights goes beyond regulating platforms. It is about protecting people’s safety and freedom in an increasingly digital world.
The 2024 LONDA Digital Rights and Inclusion Report by Paradigm Initiative scored Nigeria at 36 out of 60 in safeguarding citizens’ digital rights[3], highlighting gaps that leave millions of users, particularly women and children, vulnerable to online harm.
1 in 3 adolescents have been victims of cyberbullying and other online harms,[4] yet most lack the guidance or protection to navigate it safely. Protecting their digital rights is essential. To address this, Nigeria must enforce laws that protect digital rights without undermining human rights.
At the moment, Nigeria’s existing child online protection policies are fragmented and poorly enforced, with limited coordination among agencies such as NCC, NITDA, and the Ministry of Education.
The Child Online Access Protection Bill(HB244) is a step in that direction. It proposes holding platforms accountable, mandating swift removal of exploitative content, and establishing clearer reporting frameworks for abuse. This bill is currently at the committee stage in the House of Representatives. Another similar framework is the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, an Act protecting human rights online and guaranteeing the application of human rights for users of digital platforms. Such bills allow for legal protection and frameworks that safeguard internet users.
This can be achieved if platforms are designed with built-in safety features. Schools and communities enforce digital literacy in their curriculum. Parents and guardians are equipped with how to guide children online without limiting their participation.
Globally, some countries have found a balance between enforcing digital rights and safeguarding human rights. The Netherlands and Germany have enacted laws requiring platforms to remove harmful content without infringing on freedom of expression[6]. In Africa, South Africa leads on digital rights compliance, proving that proactive, nuanced regulation is possible.
The recently adopted African Union Child Online Safety and Empowerment Policy (2024) further underscores the responsibility of protection by urging member states to enact child-focused online protection frameworks and harmonised safety standards across the continent.
Nigeria can learn from these models and adopt them. Protecting users online demands more than technical solutions; it requires social understanding and grappling with cultural norms, gender dynamics, and local realities. Platforms must hire local content moderators who understand these contexts. The consequences of these online harms go beyond the screen; they negatively impact mental health, educational outcomes, and social trust.
For millions of Nigerians, especially women and children, digital rights violations remain an everyday reality. Upholding these rights means creating frameworks that balance freedom with protection. Citizens must demand transparency from regulators and push their representatives to prioritise these bills. Digital rights are human rights, and our collective silence is complicity.
Protecting children and vulnerable users online is not just a digital priority; it is a human rights imperative. Nigeria must protect the same rights online that it protects offline, from privacy, dignity, to expression. Until it does, our digital future will remain unequal, unsafe, and unfinished.
.El-Usman is a Senior Officer, Programmes, Paradigm Initiative.
