The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has announced a collaborative effort with 60 other Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) worldwide to enforce privacy rights in the use of artificial intelligence. The initiative centres on the “Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery and the Protection of Privacy“, coordinated by the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group (IEWG) of the Global Privacy Assembly.

The Joint Statement highlights concerns over the misuse of AI-powered tools to create non-consensual imagery, defamatory content, and other harmful materials, particularly affecting children and vulnerable groups. It calls on organisations to implement strong safeguards, ensure transparency, provide effective content removal mechanisms, and comply fully with applicable data protection laws.

Nigeria’s participation is not symbolic. The NDPC noted that its endorsement signals Nigeria’s growing alignment with global efforts to curb the misuse of artificial intelligence tools, underscoring the urgent need for stronger regulatory vigilance as generative AI tools become more sophisticated and widely accessible.

This effort forms part of a continuum of steps being taken by Nigeria to ensure the responsible use of AI, building on the National AI Strategy led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) issued by the NDPC, which mandates privacy by design and privacy by default in the development and deployment of AI tools.

Crucially for businesses, the NDPC’s National Commissioner and CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has directed that the Nigeria Data Protection Act Compliance Audit Returns (CAR) by data controllers and processors of major importance will serve as a yardstick for monitoring and evaluating the responsible use of AI for data processing in Nigeria.

In plain terms, your annual compliance audit is no longer just about data handling but a direct measure of how responsibly your organisation uses AI.

The March 31 Deadline Just Got More Important

With the NDPC now actively monitoring AI-driven data processing through the CAR framework, organisations that miss the March 31 filing deadline are not just risking financial penalties but also exposing themselves to heightened regulatory scrutiny on AI use as well.

At DL Legal Consults, we help organisations navigate data protection compliance from start to finish including preparing and filing your Compliance Audit Returns before the deadline.

📞 Don’t wait. Contact us today.

📧 info@digitallord.com.ng

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