FG Confirms 13.5m Nigerian Accounts Deleted by TikTok, Google, Microsoft Over Offensive Content

The Nigerian government has confirmed that 13.5 million Nigerian accounts were deleted by tech giants such as TikTok, Google, and Microsoft due to offensive content. The Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at the National Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Hajiya Hadiza Umar, stated that the accounts were removed for violating Nigeria's online code of conduct.

The companies took action in compliance with the Code of Practice 2024, which aims to protect users from online harm. Umar praised the platforms for their continued compliance and commitment to maintaining a safer digital environment.

While some analysts commend the move as a protective measure, others argue that it borders on censorship and infringes on freedom of expression. This development comes as TikTok announced Nigerian users as the fourth-largest in the fourth quarter of 2023, despite facing regulatory issues in the United States.