The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has announced plans to review the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) to better address emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data.
Speaking in Abuja during the third anniversary of the Act, National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, said the digital landscape has evolved significantly since the law was enacted in 2023, making it necessary to update certain provisions.
According to Olatunji, the legislation initially contained broad references to emerging technologies because many of today’s innovations had not yet become mainstream. He noted that the next phase of the law should explicitly address technologies that are now driving digital transformation.
The NDPC also stressed the importance of maintaining human involvement in decision-making processes despite the growing adoption of AI.
“We are in the era of emerging technologies. At that time, we could only make general references to emerging technologies, but today we can specifically mention Artificial Intelligence, robotics and big data…We still need the human component. We should not leave everything to artificial intelligence” – Olatunji
However, policymakers and technology stakeholders face the challenge of balancing innovation with privacy rights, ensuring regulations remain flexible enough to accommodate future technological developments without stifling growth.
The amendments could provide clearer rules for AI, robotics, and big data while strengthening public trust in the growing digital economy of the country.
