Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request demanding information from the National Communication Commission (NCC) on its self-confessed monitoring activities as well as its handing over private citizens’ data to security agencies.
On October 16, 2015, the Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta was quoted by ThisDay Newspaper to have said that “the commission in collaboration with telecommunication operators monitor call data of suspected kidnappers and insurgents and forward same to appropriate security operatives, as soon as they are available.”
The FOI request sent by PIN sought to understand the process and judicial oversight that the NCC undergoes in handing over call data of private citizens to security agencies. The initial request which was sent on October 19 was acknowledged. On October 23, PIN got a response from the NCC in which the commission sought further details of the request.
In a press statement, PIN stated that they have “provided all the details requested by the NCC as at Monday october 26, 2015 and now hope to get an official response from the NCC within seven days as stipulated by the FOI act.”
This is PIN’s latest step in their digital rights and freedom campaign. In August 2015, we reported that PIN had written a letter to the President to protest the illegal surveillance activities of four governors in Nigeria.
