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Big Tech, AI, and the quiet expansion of digital surveillance in Nigeria

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 09/11/2026, 07:45:24 UTC.

Briefings

A 2026 article by Nshua Cali-Dibang from Global Voices examines how Big Tech companies in Nigeria leverage AI to expand digital surveillance, contrasting potential inclusion benefits with risks to personal information control. The piece references a 2024 US FTC investigation into nine major platforms, noting that while AI offers inclusion opportunities, it also creates incentives for excessive data collection. The article argues that without clear safeguards, corporate power resembles surveillance, potentially undermining accountability and rights in Nigeria.

Key points

• In September 2024, the US Federal Trade Commission investigated nine major social media and video-streaming companies, including Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, for collecting extensive user information.
• The investigation found that these companies could accumulate substantial information about individuals while users had limited understanding of how their data was used or how to prevent certain uses.

Context

This article explores how Big Tech facilitates and hinders authoritarian governments and practices, specifically focusing on Nigeria's data protection challenges. It references a 2024 US FTC investigation into nine major platforms to illustrate the broader trend of corporate data collection and its implications for the Global South.

Limitations

The article relies on a single source from Global Voices and references a 2024 US FTC report; it does not provide specific details on Nigeria's own data protection laws, nor does it contain direct quotes from Nigerian authorities or specific local case studies.

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