NITDA Warns Nigerians on Risks of Sharing Data with AI

The Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued a public warning to citizens regarding the sharing of sensitive personal information with artificial intelligence platforms, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI. This advisory, released by NITDA's Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT.NG) under reference number NITDA-0926-003, addresses the increasing use of AI chatbots for various tasks by Nigerians.

The agency noted that users often submit critical data such as National Identification Numbers (NIN), bank account details, and personal information, which could lead to privacy and security risks. NITDA cautioned that once this information is entered into AI systems, users may lose control over it, leading to potential identity theft and financial fraud.

Additionally, the agency raised concerns about the reliability of AI-generated responses, which may be factually incorrect. NITDA urged organizations to establish AI governance policies and reminded the public to adhere to existing data protection guidelines.