• Subscribers advised to report unsolicited SMS
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof Umar Danbatta yesterday called for the passage of the harmonised Data Protection Bill and the Electronic Transaction Bill into Law.
He urged Nigerians to report cases of unsolicited messages from service provides to the commission for action.
Danbatta spoke in Lagos at a breakout session on “The business of cyber law” at the ongoing Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The Data Protection Bill, he said, proposes a comprehensive framework governing collection, processing and safeguarding personal data.
He said the Electronic Transaction Bill, which proposes a framework for proof and admissibility of electronic transactions in court, was still pending at the National Assembly.
He urged NBA to support effort towards passage of the bills into law.
On how to stop receipt of unsolicited short messages from GSM service providers, Danbatta urged subscribers to send STOP to 2442.
If the messages keep coming afterwards, he said the subscriber should call NCC through the toll free line: 622 to lodge a complaint.
Danbatta said by also sending HELP to 2442, subscribers can choose the type of messages they want.
According to him, NCC would ensure the refund of money lost through unsolicited text messages or unsubscribed services.
“I also suffer the same menace,” he said with regards to invasion of privacy.
Danbatta urged law enforcement agencies to monitor and ensure full implementation and compliance with the existing laws.
“Organisations at all levels should devote enough resources to information security as a national digital security concern,” he said.
Danbatta called for capacity building for officers, prosecutors, judges and attorneys-general in cybercrime, as well as for standardised cyber insurance policies.
“Data end to end encryption should be encouraged,” he said.
The NCC Executive Vice Chairman said data privacy was a major concern, adding that the NCC Act empowers the commission to take necessary measures to protect consumers.
“The notion of cyber security and protection of privacy under the cyber law is a journey and not a destination. Nigeria’s speed is good, but more is required.
“A society characterised by the guarantee of safety and privacy, and low levels of cyber crimes, shall ultimately facilitate Nigeria’s target of being among the top 20 economies by 2020,” he said.
Former NBA president Augustine Alegeh (SAN), who chaired the session, said there was already a legal framework in place; the challenge was implementing the laws and policies.
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