As Artificial Intelligence technology develops, it is important to address the potential misuse of AI for illegal surveillance. To subjugate the risk of abuse, the government and other organisations must play a role. There is a need for the government to put in place proper laws regulating data protection and to bring in an independent authority to oversee the use of AI in accordance with the proper ethics and human rights. Individuals and civil society organisations are important for bringing these issues to the public. Tech companies racing to create their own line of artificial intelligence systems must ensure their AI technologies do not invade users’ privacy. Moreover, cybersecurity experts have to work with the police to prevent invasion of privacy while respecting human rights.
In recent years, Nigeria has been a recipient of enhanced security systems incorporating AI, especially in facial recognition. According to a press release by the Institute of Development Studies, Nigeria is Africa’s largest buyer of surveillance technology, spending hundreds of millions of dollars yearly. Nevertheless, this trend has raised serious concerns because the application of such invasive instruments is unmonitored and devoid of any strict policy provisions. Critics of such technologies have said they can potentially violate fundamental human rights. This is due to the nature of the use of these technologies. In a report titled ‘Mapping the Supply of Surveillance Technologies to Africa,’ Tony Roberts from the Institute of Development Studies highlights that “States are using surveillance technologies to create a chilling effect to suppress civil society and freedom of expression. To combat this, we urgently need action to establish robust legal frameworks to protect the human rights of citizens and restrict the export of surveillance products.”
Cases where Nigerian citizens have fallen victim to harmful surveillance practices are many. Notably, a pharmacist, Solomon Akuma, was arrested for allegedly making comments that were critical of President Buhari and his late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. Akuma was detained for three months without trial before eventually being taken to court for charges of terrorism, sedition, criminal intimidation of the president, and threat to the life of the president.
An attempt to prevent various abuses of AI-based surveillance in Nigeria should involve the collective efforts of many parties. What is left is for the government authorities to effectively protect citizens’ privacy and, at the same time, promote the use of proper Artificial intelligence systems. In this case, firms that provide surveillance technologies in Lagos and Abuja must be ethically sensitive and cautious in their AI structures to prevent the abuse of Nigerians’ rights. Civil society organisations are important since they help create awareness, ensure that people accountable for abuses of civil liberties are brought to justice, and act as watchdogs.
To conclude, Nigerian citizens need to continue engaging the government to compel the proper and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in surveillance.
By Oluwatishe Adebayo