The Federal Government has cautioned content creators against filming or taking photographs of unsuspecting members of the public and posting such content online without their consent.
The warning was issued by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission in a statement released on Friday, the 13th of March, 2026 in Abuja by the agency’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye.
Bamigboye said the practice violates citizens’ rights to control their personal information, a protection guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
He explained that the commission has recently observed a growing trend where individuals capture images or videos of random people in public places and upload the clips on social media platforms for entertainment.
Bamigboye referenced an incident involving a content creator who allegedly positioned himself along roadsides in Lagos to produce a reality-style show using recordings of unsuspecting passersby.
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According to the commission, using people’s images in that manner requires their permission unless the individual behind the content can demonstrate that the act falls within other lawful grounds for data processing.
He added that early findings from the commission’s inquiries indicate that such deliberate intrusion into people’s privacy does not advance public interest or serve any legitimate objective.
“In any event, the data subjects involved have no expectation that their images will be captured and shared with the whole world by an unknown individual,” Bamigboye said.
Bamigboye also disclosed that the National Commissioner of the commission, Vincent Olatunji, has directed operators of social media platforms to tighten the enforcement of their community rules to address such practices.