Abuja: The National Cybersecurity Coordinator, Office of the National Security Advisor, Sa’ad Abubakar, has emphasized the importance of age verification as a potential solution for protecting children online. Sa’ad made this assertion during a roundtable discussion focused on identifying and addressing harmful online content, particularly Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), held on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was organized by the Centre for Analytics and Behavioral Change (CABC) and supported by TikTok. Sa’ad underscored the urgency of implementing effective protective measures, considering the vast majority of children involved in online activities. He stressed the importance of initiating discussions on safeguarding children’s online engagements at various levels, including government, civil society, and parental involvement.
Sa’ad highlighted the need for children to understand the type of information they should share online, the policies relevant to their age, and the necessity for platform owners to establish timely guidelines. Educating children about the potential risks and consequences of their online activities is crucial for their protection, he noted.
He further called on platform owners to develop and implement guidelines ensuring children’s safety and well-being, emphasizing their significant role in safeguarding children online.
Earlier in the event, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Community Engagement, North Central Region, highlighted the importance of collaborating with government agencies like the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to strengthen privacy control. Essiet emphasized improving reporting systems to ensure safety and justice when violations occur, creating awareness to build trust and send a clear message that violence has no place in society, whether online or offline.
The Manager of Outreaches and Partnerships at TikTok, Duduzile Mkhize, reiterated TikTok’s commitment to working with government stakeholders and regulators to develop effective policies ensuring operational efficiency. Mkhize noted that the workshop was focused on tech-facilitated gender-based violence, with TikTok prioritizing safety for everyone. She acknowledged that minority groups, such as women and children, are more impacted by online violence, and the event aimed to gather feedback from grassroots stakeholders to improve and eliminate online tech-facilitated gender-based violence.
