The Nigeria Data Protection Commission has joined 60 data protection authorities across the world in endorsing a joint initiative aimed at addressing growing privacy risks associated with artificial intelligence generated images. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the commission confirmed its backing of the “Joint Statement on AI Generated Imagery and the Protection of Privacy,” coordinated by the International Enforcement Cooperation Working Group of the Global Privacy Assembly.
The joint statement raises concerns over AI tools capable of producing highly realistic images and videos of identifiable individuals within seconds. Regulators warned that such technologies are increasingly being misused to create non consensual images, defamatory content and other harmful materials, with children and vulnerable groups facing heightened exposure. The initiative urges organisations deploying these systems to implement safeguards from the outset, ensure transparency in how the tools operate and establish effective channels for content removal in line with applicable data protection laws.
The commission noted that Nigeria’s participation reflects ongoing domestic efforts to promote responsible artificial intelligence governance. It referenced the development of the National AI Strategy led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, as part of broader policy measures to guide ethical innovation. The NDPC also pointed to its General Application and Implementation Directive, which mandates data controllers and processors to embed privacy protections into their systems from the design stage.
National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has further directed that Compliance Audit Returns under the Nigeria Data Protection Act will be used to evaluate how major data controllers and processors deploy AI tools in their operations. According to the commission, the audit framework will serve as a benchmark for monitoring responsible data processing practices and ensuring that artificial intelligence systems operating within Nigeria uphold established privacy standards.