WATCHING THE WATCHERS: RETHINKING SURVEILLANCE, PRIVACY AND ETHICAL PROGRESS IN NIGERIA'S DIGITAL AGE

Abstract

This study examined the phenomenon of watching the watchers: rethinking surveillance, privacy and ethical progress in Nigeria’s digital age. The surveillance theory was anchored in this study. This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consisted of key stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital and governance ecosystem, including policymakers, data protection officers, digital rights advocates, investigative journalists, and IT security professionals estimated at 2,500 individuals across federal agencies, media organisations, NGOs and the private tech sector. A purposive sample size of 20 participants was drawn to ensure the diversity of perspectives and the purposive sampling technique was employed. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The data analysis method employed was thematic content analysis. Findings revealed that digital surveillance in Nigeria poses significant ethical challenges, as it is frequently deployed without informed consent, transparency or respect for privacy rights, leading to a climate of fear, mistrust and self-censorship among citizens, particularly journalists, activists and marginalised groups. The study concluded that, the unchecked deployment of digital surveillance technologies in Nigeria has led to a clear erosion of privacy rights and ethical standards, as state and institutional actors increasingly operate outside transparent and consent-driven frameworks, making it imperative to establish ethical guidelines that prioritise individual autonomy, accountability and the preservation of civil liberties in the digital space. The study recommended that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Federal Ministry of Justice should develop and enforce national ethical guidelines for digital surveillance that prioritise privacy rights and civil liberties.