By Oluwatomi A. Ajayi
Digital technology has not only become part of our lives which is an integration of the physical and digital world. it has also reshaped how we share ideas and information. It is therefore significant to say that we are living in the information economy which some have classified as the age of the 4th industrial revolution (4IR), where it is important to protect our information assets. Or has it not been contended that personal information is worth more than oil? This explains why cybercriminals themselves are daily exploiting technology, sparing no sector or individuals. Clearly, cybersecurity has now become a huge concern because cybercriminals are often interested in getting their hands on our personal data and from the data they steal our assets.
Cybercrime consist of a broad range of illegal activities that can come in many forms such as cyber extortion, cyber defamation, cyber stalking, cyber bullying, cyber fraud or commerce fraud, cyber espionage, phishing and romance scams, identity theft, injection of malware into networks, technology-facilitated gender-based violence and other social engineering threats. The reality is that we have all become potential victims of cybercrime such that the proliferation of crime committed through the internet cannot be ignored, because they are interfering with our private lives. In particular, we should note that cybercrime is no longer limited to the black hood wearing hacker who uses his laptop to log into other people’s email. It has also extended to non-consensual pornography, revenge porn and to women who get their phones hacked while their devices are being repaired or stolen, only to find their private photos posted online. The stories are unending and horrifying, as the consequences have led to cyber blackmail, cyber harassment, mental distress, financial setback and even physical harm.
Cyber-attacks are happening more often across the world. In 2024, the World-first Cybercrime Index identified Nigeria as one of the world’s major cybercrime countries. At different times, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that it has arrested and docked several thousands of yahoo boys in Nigeria including hundreds of foreign hackers for alleged cybercrimes and hacking activities. Furthermore, the Cybervergent’s H1 2024 Report has also revealed that over 586, 130 cyber-attacks were detected to have been carried out on various Nigeria’s financial companies and government institutions.
A data breach is a cybercrime that can be devastating to victims. That is why, each year, on February 11, the world observes the Safer Internet Day and on February 28, the Data Privacy Day is equally celebrated across the world. The theme for the Safer Internet Day 2025 is “Together for a better Internet” while the theme for the 2025 Data Privacy Day chosen by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission is “Fostering Trust and Inclusion through Data Privacy.” Safer internet and data privacy are the cornerstones of the three principles of cybersecurity known as the CIA Triad, (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability). The purpose of these principles is to help us develop a strong cybersecurity culture, identify security risks, manage the risks and detect, analyse and respond to cybersecurity threats.
As we observe the Safer Internet Day and the Data Privacy Day in this month of February, we must ensure we get involved by being proactive about securing a safer digital space. It also involves knowing our rights and responsibilities online by using the internet ethically and responsibly. There is no denying the fact that there is now an increasing interest in cybersecurity research which is been conducted by internal and external stakeholders in the cybersecurity field comprising of a critical intersection involving academics in sciences, industry, goverments and legal practitioners who are thus positioned to lay a solid foundation for cybersecurity practice. The essence is to share their expertise in order to explore actionable solutions and sustainable practices to mitigate cybercrime and threats.
In Nigeria, our internet and data privacy structure is regulated by domestic, regional and international framework evolving first with Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution which provides that privacy is a fundamental human right, in addition to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 which was amended in 2024. There are several other laws, policies and institutional frameworks which are also set out to regulate cybercrime and data breach. Another key development is that Nigeria has also been participating in the cybersecurity joint law enforcement operations involving INTERPOL and AFRIPOL. These global law enforcement strategies are: Operation Serengeti, Operation HAECHI (vi) and Operation Jackal. The result? Several thousands of malicious infrastructures have been successfully dismantled with many cybercriminals apprehended by the Police.
Note that the internet is not built for anonymity and invisibility. Despite the prevalence of cybercrime, we can see that cybercriminals often get caught through their digital footprints coupled with the tech tools used by the Police and attribution techniques involved in cybercrime investigation. Thus in this month of February and beyond, let us therefore stay alert or vigilant about our personal information that we post online, Our digital identity is worth protecting especially when we know how malicious hackers can clone our account and use our data for criminal purpose Let us keep a close eye on our online accounts and activities. Yes, we can blame the cybercriminals for committing all sorts of illegal activities online but we can also “take control of our data” by making a choice not to be careless online. That will mean we are taking personal responsibility to cultivate the rules of cybersecurity hygiene. Victims should not think they can handle cybercrime on their own, rather they are advised to report to the law enforcement authorities or the data protection commission on any matter bordering on privacy infringement and unwanted intrusions. In any case, many of these breaches are preventable if we try to embrace cybersecurity education.
Oluwatomi A. Ajayi, Esq is a member of NBA Ikeja Branch and the author of ‘Internet Technologies and Cybersecurity Law in Nigeria’ (February 2025) <tomiajayi4@gmail.com>
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