Nigeria is taking charge in the global fight against unethical use of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven privacy abuse, with the country's Data Protection Commission (NDPC) joining forces with more than 60 international counterparts to combat the rapid spread of deepfakes and synthetic media that exploit personal data and damage reputations.
The concerted action, supported by the Global Privacy Assembly's International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group, emphasises the growing misuse of AI.
Beyond diplomacy, regulators are focusing on the technology itself.
The NDPC is pressuring companies to include safeguards directly into AI systems, ranging from privacy-by-design architectures and tougher data minimisation to traceability tools that detect falsified material and expedite takedowns.
The shift underscores concerns that generative AI platforms are being used to perpetrate scams, non-consensual intimate imagery, impersonation, and disinformation operations, putting minors and vulnerable people at risk.
Nigeria's approach combines enforcement and infrastructure, with the NDPC describing its support as part of a larger effort to promote responsible AI deployment.
According to National Commissioner Vincent Olatunji, compliance audits will now serve as a check on ethical AI use, providing regulators with insight into how automated systems operate.
“Major data controllers must demonstrate how their AI models collect, process, and protect personal information, effectively treating algorithmic accountability like financial reporting,” he said.
The broader policy push complements national efforts led by communications and digital economy minister, Bosun Tijani, who has championed the National AI strategy.
Tijani has previously warned that without a clear national approach to governing AI, deepfakes could have “significant implications for society”, stressing that proactive policies are essential to protect citizens while harnessing AI’s benefits.
While the coalition does not create new binding rules, it signals coordinated global enforcement, with the NDPC alignment expected to boost cross-border investigations and accelerate adoption of tools like watermarking, detection algorithms, and digital provenance to distinguish authentic content from increasingly sophisticated AI-generated deepfakes.
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