The advent of technology in Nigeria has brought much ease and improvement to various sectors. One great example is the ability to read this article with your smartphone or laptop as you’re currently doing.
While the rapid advancement of technology has positively impacted different fields from education to healthcare, and governance to mention a few, there are certain concerns worthy of noting. Hence, various ethical issues from privacy to security issues. To ensure that these techs continue to benefit Nigerians, these issues must be properly addressed.
This write-up aims to create awareness about these issues for a chance to find suitable solutions. Let’s quickly take a look at some of the ethical issues of technology in this country.
Ethical Issues of Technology in Nigeria
Privacy Issues
This is increasingly a main concern in Nigeria as digital services and data collection become more rampant. Do you know that there is a body that protects our data right? The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) helps to protect personal data and privacy rights in the country.
It does this by providing guidelines for the lawful processing of users’ data. Thereby, requiring that corporations that process personal data strictly abide by the specific data protection principles already stipulated.
Despite the existence of the NDPR, challenges concerning privacy rights still exist. One of the major concerns of many remains the proliferation of data-driven technologies without proper transparency and accountability in handling data. As a result, this raises a couple of ethical questions about the control and consent of users over their personal information.
Therefore, there is a need for increased awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians about their privacy rights. This entails how their data is being used and processed by different digital platforms. The NDPR should also make provisions to strictly enforce the laws so that organisations within the country can comply without exemptions.
Challenges of CyberSecurity
Another pressing issue caused by the availability of technology in the country is cybersecurity. In recent times, there have been reports of cybercrimes and data breaches. This has continued to affect not only individuals but also government agencies and various businesses.
Meanwhile, cyber threats like identity theft, voice phishing scams, and ransomware attacks continue to dominate the online landscape.
The ethical concerns in cybersecurity revolve around the lack of integrity, confidentiality, and availability of digital data and systems. Hence, a responsible innovation to combat this entails developing robust protocols and technologies that can protect against any sort of cyber threat while still respecting the rights of users to privacy.
A pressing challenge in addressing this issue is the lack of capacity and collaboration among related stakeholders. The necessary steps to solving this to a bearable minimum include training cybersecurity professionals, boosting information sharing between private and public sectors, and investing in cybersecurity infrastructure.
With the rise of ethical security issues, there is a need for transparency in how security incidents are handled by the various organisations involved. This entails immediate disclosure of data breaches to the affected users so that they can promptly take measures to lessen the potential harm.
Read here: Cybersecurity In The Digital Age: 10 Data Protection Hacks In An Interconnected World
Responsible Innovation in Nigeria’s Technological Sector
Nigeria’s tech community features a vibrant startup culture and innovative solutions that are designed to suit local needs. Responsible innovation entails developing and leveraging technologies to drive economic growth. It also helps to address societal challenges in a more ethical approach.
The following are the major characteristics of responsible innovations.
- Algorithm Neutrality: All algorithms used in different applications are unbiased and fair.
- Digital Inclusion: They are capable of filling the gap by making the technologies accessible and beneficial to all and sundry.
- Impacts the Environment: These innovations must be able to provide solutions through sustainable practices.
- Ethical Artificial Intelligence: They foster the responsible use of AI and machine learning to lessen issues like automation bias and other questionable impacts.
In addition, initiatives like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act are created to foster responsible technology practices in Nigeria.
Conclusion
The ethics of technology in this digital age revolve around ensuring security and privacy and promoting responsible innovations. One body is incapable of addressing these issues. Hence, there is a need for a multifaceted approach that encompasses communal engagement and global collaboration.
By prioritising ethics in technology development, Nigeria can begin to utilise the transformative power of digital technologies. At the same time, this helps to protect the rights and interests of the citizens/potential users. By doing this, the country can promote trust in technology and offer sustainable innovations with these inclusive developmental approaches.
Read here: Tech Ethics And Privacy: An Ongoing Challenge In Technology
