Collection of Customers’ Social Media Handles Illegal-NDPC Tells CBN
3d render of social media icon collection
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is in disagreement with the order the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s gave to commercial banks to collect their customers’ social media handles, saying it’s illegal.
The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said in a statement issued by Mr. Itunu Dosekun, Head of Media, on Thursday in Abuja that the commission was currently engaging with the CBN on the matter.
Commercial banks on June 26 were directed by CBN to obtain the social media handles of customers as part of enhanced Customer Due Diligence (CDD) regulations.
However, Dr. Olatunji revealed that before the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), on June 12, indiscriminate collection of citizens’ data by Data Controller Organisations was not taken seriously.
According to him, Data Controllers have prerequisite steps to take before data are obtained from data subjects.
He also said that any organisation that defaulted was going against the law and causing a data breach, adding that it would attract a fine.
“There are provisions in the law to go against any data controller be it private or government office, NGOs, hotels, because we are pro-citizens.
“The whole idea of this law is to protect the rights, the interests of Nigerians who are data subjects.
“We are already engaging with the CBN to let them know that what they have done is against the law because there are basic principles you must meet when you want to collect citizens’ data.
“There is data minimisation, meaning you don’t collect data beyond the purpose for which it was intended, purpose limitation, what purpose is it for,” he explained.
Olatunji who noted that requesting for social media handles is not necessary also emphasised that if the collection of social media handles happened under public interest, it would include monitoring some transactions, and there should be proper awareness among the customers.
Olatunji added that they would be inquiring why the CDD regulation came up and how best to resolve that in line with global best practices. (NAN)
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