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Why Meta Can’t Share Data With Security Operatives -Official
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Thread and WhatsApp, has said it cannot share user data with law enforcement agents due to its privacy policy.
The Head of Safety Africa, Middle and Turkey at Meta, Sylvia Musalagani, spoke on Tuesday in Lagos during an interactive session at an online safety workshop.
The workshop was organised for civil society organisations and government sexual assault referral centres.
The workshop, titled, ‘Advancing Women and Children’s Safety Online in Nigeria: Image-based Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response’, was organised by a digital safety, rights and society advocacy group, TechSocietal, in partnership with Meta and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Digital Access Programme in Nigeria.
During discussions on the collaboration of owners of social media platforms with Nigerian law enforcement agencies on data sharing of arrested cybercriminals to ensure prosecution and justice, the Meta representative said the privacy laws of the company prevented it from sharing user data with third parties.
She said, “We are not allowed to share user data. We cannot even share it with law enforcement agents. We are governed by privacy laws that we have to respect. I understand the importance of sharing the data with law enforcement but we have to understand from the other side of things. This is an area where we have to strike a balance when we talk about freedom of expression, safety, and privacy on the Internet.”
She also stressed the need for safety for women and children online, adding that a lot of non-consensual sharing of intimate images mostly affected women.
On Meta’s policies, tools and technologies used to ensure safety for vulnerable groups online, Musalagani stated that platforms such as MyDigitalWorld, and Parents Education Hub, among others, were used to create safety awareness and crime prevention.
She noted that accounts that posted content shared with malicious intent on Meta platforms, were brought down.
Musalagani further stated that Meta was fighting online crimes with policies, sophisticated detection technology and AI, as well as working with centres for missing children and law enforcement agencies.
The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Adedayo Thomas, expressed worry over the low digital literacy that pertained to online safety in sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the participants, the Coordinator of the Ekiti State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, also known as Moremi Clinic, Mrs Rita Ilevbare, noted that the provisions in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the Child Rights Act had not been fully tested to bring succour to violated women and children.
She urged advocates for women and children to test the provisions of the acts to bring results.
But the Executive Director of Tech Societal, Temitope Ogundipe, stated that the non-adoption of the VAPP and CRA in some states posed a challenge to the increased successes of the act.
Ogundipe further decried the increasing vulnerability of children and adolescents to online risks due to the widespread use of the internet and digital technologies.
She added, “In Nigeria, a recent report by the Nigeria Communications Commission (2020) revealed that a staggering 90% of 4-16-year-olds in Nigeria have been exposed to cyber risks. Furthermore, women and girls in Nigeria are disproportionately affected by online violence and abuse, including non-consensual image-based sexual abuse, rape threats, cyberstalking, and doxxing. Perpetrators hide behind screens and anonymous profiles, evading accountability and consequences.”
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NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam
The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.
News
Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence
The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.
The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.
News
Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027
A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.
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