Lessening data breaches in Africa

CybAfriqué is a space for news and analysis on cyber, data, and information security on the African continent.

Happy Weekends!

The week went by really fast and I still feel it’s monday! At any rate, I would always be enthusiastic to write to you again. In this edition, we stopped by different countries erecting data centres and launching new offices to abate cybersecurity problems. In Nigeria, we uncovered WhatsApp’s discriminatory policies and the legal action it is confronted with.  

Discover more in the article. 

— Adebola. 

HIGHLIGHTS 

Lessening Data breaches in Africa 

In an annual report released by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Nigeria’s data protection cumulative revenue rose to N6.2 billion against N5.5 billion in 2022. The commission indicated that the country’s effort towards data privacy and protection has been in compliance with global standards. 

While the country has successfully increased its data protection revenue, it becomes a concern to assess the effectiveness of the vast data privacy policies. Nigeria holds onto its several data privacy and protection policies attached with stringent fines for erring companies further contributing to national revenues. This has likely made companies and organisations aware of the need to be conscious of the data privacy of their consumers, and integrate measures to lessen breaches. To corroborate this development, a Surfshark study indicates that compared to 2022, Africa showed a significant improvement in the number of data breaches in 2023 from 25 million to 3 million.

Across the world, data privacy and protection has not only managed to become a cybersecurity concern but handled with a sense of national pride hence, national security. Different countries have enacted their data protection laws e.g the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) in Nigeria and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union (EU).

With the rapid growth of the internet and as more users leverage the digital revolutionary tool, data privacy risks have become critical. Evolving systems including Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being trained on human engagement and interactions with the internet. Yet, AI has aided more crimes infringing on privacy and identity. The world still relies on information and AI platforms would continually need users' data or information to be optimal. 

WhatsApp privacy bias with Nigeria 

WhatsApp, a product of Meta, has been in and out of legal troubles with Nigeria concerning a particular user update in 2021. Recently, the Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) charged the company of $220 million following a three-year investigation. The findings revealed that the company withdrew user’s consent in sharing personal data, even to third parties. 

“The Privacy Policy essentially compelled users to waive their right to self-determination and control processing and use of their personal data, and object to the sharing of such data with third parties, including Facebook companies,” the commission said in its report.

In the guide accessed by Nigerians, the term “privacy policy” appeared only once compared to the European version mentioned more than ten times. In response to the fine, Meta has sought for an appeal. 

Big techs have worn hats for participating in the advocacy for data privacy laws even when they would still flout them. Unpleasantly, in 2021, India also faced the same issues stemming from the 2021 update. 

FEATURES

• Meta has removed 63,000 Nigerian social media accounts related to fraud and sex blackmail. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation found out that the victims are mostly teenage boys and has led to increasing suicide counts since 2021. 

• In a report by Cisco, Africa’s incessant cyber threat was highlighted. It notes that Africa’s economic potentials might be sabotaged by unattended infrastructures and policies. 

• Africa’s AI use cases are ravaged by electricity, few data centres, despite multinational companies on the continent, and data subscription fees. Nevertheless, AI is still on a hot seat globally owing to the threats it poses.

• In Nigeria, internet fraudsters dubbed ‘Yahoo boys’ disguise themselves as clerics to swindle unsuspecting victims.

HEADLINES

• Meta axed 63,000 Nigeria-based Instagram accounts that engaged in sextortion - Quartz 

• FCCPC probe found WhatsApp threatened to delete user accounts, collected excessive data - TechCabal

• Meta will appeal $220 million FCCPC fine, disagrees with data privacy claims - TechCabal

• Nigerians react as Bola Tinubu commissions the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre - Technext

• Hope PSB hit by ₦6.5 billion cyberattack, seeks legal recourse for recovery - TechCabal

• U.S. opens special cybersecurity office in Abuja to boost collaboration with EFCC - Nairametrics 

• Hit by steep operating costs, Nigerian internet service providers gasp for air - TechCabal

• Africa Data Centres doubles capacity at Cape Town facility - ITWeb

• Fake Cameroonian news sites spread pro-Russia, anti-France content - DFR Lab

• Justice Ministry, DGSN Sign Deal to Facilitate Cooperation in Exchange of Electronic Data - Morocco World News

• Online phishing: bank accounts targeted by fraudulent messages in Morocco -  Africa Cybersecurity Magazine

• Morocco unveils its National Cybersecurity Strategy for 2030 - Africa Cybersecurity Magazine

• Liquid C2 Becomes The First Provider In Africa To Support Hybrid Network Connections To Google Cloud - Techtrends ZambiaShare

ACROSS THE WORLD

• A massive global tech outage has grounded flights and disrupted banks

• What to know about the massive global tech outage grounding flights, disrupting banks and more

• Cyber-security firm rejects $23bn Google takeover

OPPORTUNITIES

• 12 weeks virtual training on Cybersecurity | Malhub | Deadline: 15th August 2024

• ECOWAS in hosting a Cybersecurity Hackathon in Nigeria  | Applications open from July 19, 2024, to August 5, 2024.