Google, Microsoft & TikTok Block 13.5M Nigerian Accounts

A total of 13.5 million accounts were shut down across platforms in Nigeria for not following the rules, regulations and the code of practice, and tech giants Google, Microsoft, and TikTok are getting  approval from the government for playing by the rules.

A total of over  58.9 million offensive posts were taken down during the period under review, while a lot of  complaints were lodged by users. This happened because of Nigeria’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms. The Code, jointly issued by NITDA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), provides guidelines for keeping online spaces safe.

Hadiza Umar, NITDA’s director of corporate communications and media relations, said in a statement on Wednesday that over 58million offensive contents were taken down from various platforms.

The NITDA spokesperson commended Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for their obedience to the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken drastic measures to regulate online spaces, shutting down approximately over  13million social media accounts across platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) due to offensive content and violations of the Code of Practice.

The specific violations include content that is harmful or dangerous, misinformation and fake news, content that threatens online safety, and posts that don’t meet community standards but out of these, about 400 thousands content were restored after successful appeals.

That means if your content got taken down unfairly, you could appeal and get it back. 

Nigeria has over 200 million people, and a huge amount  of them are online. With social media becoming the main source of news and information for many Nigerians, keeping these platforms clean is necessary.

The country has dealt with  issues around misinformation, especially during elections and times of social tension. By working with platforms to remove harmful content, Nigeria is trying to prevent real-world problems that start online.

Nigeria’s method of creating clear guidelines and getting platform buy-in might be a template other countries watch. The fact that major tech companies are following this approach might work better.

NITDA stated that the most recent compliance disclosures highlighted advancements, but cautioned that more was needed in safeguarding Nigerians from danger ahead on the internet than just regulatory enforcement. In order to maintain the safety, transparency, and inclusivity of the nation’s digital ecosystem, the agency called for platforms, regulators, and civil society to continue working together.

Platforms also are actively monitoring and removing content that violates local guidelines if you are using social media in Nigeria but you can appeal if your content gets removed unfairly, and the rules aren’t just suggestions they’re being enforced.

The numbers show these platforms are serious about following Nigeria’s rules, so users should be aware of what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

The success of this  report might encourage Nigeria to strengthen its digital regulations even more. With 13.5 million accounts blocked and nearly 59 million posts removed, it is obvious that these platforms have the tools to enforce rules when they want to.

This kind of large-scale content moderation is probably the future of social media regulation as Nigeria just proved it can be done without banning entire platforms or creating international incidents.

The big question now is whether other countries will follow this Nigeria’s approach or stick with the confrontational methods to have been seen elsewhere or neglect the posts by their nations and citizens.