Nigeria’s data regulator is drawing a firmer line on how far content creators can go when filming people in public spaces.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has warned content creators that filming unsuspecting individuals and posting such content online may violate the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
The regulator says images and videos of people qualify as personal data, meaning they cannot be captured and distributed without a lawful basis especially consent.
The warning is aimed at a growing trend on social media where creators record strangers in public spaces, sometimes framing it as entertainment or “street content.”
NDPC noted that such practices may breach citizens’ right to privacy as protected under Nigeria’s constitution and data protection laws.
It also flagged specific cases where creators film people in locations like busy streets and markets without informing them, stressing that this does not qualify as public interest processing of data.
The commission added that content creators could face sanctions or even criminal liability if found to be in violation of the law, especially where consent is missing or ignored.
What stands out here is the direction of regulation itself. Nigeria is no longer only focusing on big tech platforms , it is now extending enforcement to everyday creators who handle personal data, even informally.
As social media content creation becomes more commercial and widespread, the NDPC’s position signals a shift: visibility does not remove privacy rights.
The message is simple, public space does not automatically mean public consent.
