Nigeria Data Protection Commission has warned that the growing misuse of personal data and digital platforms could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

NDPC

The warning was delivered during the 2026 Press Week organised by the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner and chief executive officer,  NDPC, who was represented by Itunu Dosekun, head of Media Unit at the commission, said disinformation and unlawful exploitation of personal data posed serious threats to credible elections.

The event had the theme: “2027 Election: Defending Democracy in the Era of Disinformation.”

Dosekun said the struggle for credible elections was no longer confined to polling units, noting that digital platforms had become major channels for manipulated narratives, fake news, propaganda and AI-generated misinformation.

According to him, the rapid growth of social media platforms, messaging applications and data-driven political campaigns has created vulnerabilities capable of influencing voter perception and weakening public trust in democratic institutions.

He warned that the abuse of personal data for political profiling and psychological targeting had become one of the most dangerous threats facing democracies worldwide.

“The misuse of citizens’ personal information carries serious social implications, especially for vulnerable groups who may not fully understand how their data is harvested, processed and weaponised online,” he said.

Dosekun noted that coordinated disinformation campaigns could inflame ethnic tensions, spread fear and discourage civic participation, particularly among young Nigerians.

He described the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, as a critical legal framework aimed at protecting citizens against unlawful data processing and digital exploitation.

According to him, the law gives Nigerians greater control over their personal information while placing obligations on organisations, institutions and political actors to handle data responsibly.

Dosekun also called for stronger collaboration among political parties, media organisations, technology firms, civil society groups and citizens to promote responsible digital behaviour ahead of the elections.

He stressed the role of journalists and media professionals in combating fake news, fact-checking information and safeguarding public discourse.

According to him, protecting personal data should not only be seen as a privacy issue but also as a democratic responsibility necessary for maintaining public confidence, national stability and electoral credibility.

Stakeholders at the event emphasised the need for improved digital literacy, stronger regulation and increased public awareness to prevent the abuse of digital platforms during future elections.

Anthropic, artificial Intelligence company, has said that  it has secured sixty-five billion dollars in a new funding round, raising the company’s valuation to about nine hundred and sixty-five billion dollars.

The development places the company ahead of its rival, OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, which was valued at about eight hundred and fifty-two billion dollars earlier this year.

Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI employees and led by Dario Amodei, chief executive officer, has emerged as one of the leading firms in the global Artificial Intelligence industry.

The company is widely recognised for its advanced coding capabilities and generative AI models, particularly its AI assistant known as Claude.

Unlike some competitors focusing mainly on general consumers, Anthropic has concentrated on delivering AI solutions to enterprise and business clients.

The company also says it places strong emphasis on AI safety while expanding its products and services amid growing competition in the sector.

Krishna Rao, chief financial officer of Anthropic, said the new funding would support the company’s research efforts and help meet rising global demand for its AI technologies.

Reports indicate that the investment round attracted major Silicon Valley venture capital firms, including Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks and Sequoia Capital.

Temu has been fined 232 million dollars by European Commission regulators for allegedly failing to prevent illegal and unsafe products from being sold on its platform.

Temu

The European Commission announced the penalty on Thursday, saying the company failed to adequately identify and manage risks linked to goods sold to consumers within the European Union.

The case was brought under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU law regulating large online platforms and digital services.

According to the Commission, investigations into Temu began in 2024 following complaints from the European Consumer Organisation and 17 affiliated national consumer groups over the circulation of unsafe products on the platform.

Regulators said mystery shopping tests carried out during the investigation revealed that several phone chargers failed basic safety requirements, while some baby toys contained chemicals above legal safety limits or posed choking hazards.

The Commission further accused Temu of failing to properly assess how its recommendation systems and influencer-linked promotions could amplify the visibility of unsafe goods.

Henna Virkkunen criticised the company’s approach, saying the platform’s risk assessment did not provide regulators and consumers with adequate information about the scale of harm posed by illegal products sold through the site.

“Now it is time for Temu to comply with the law,” she stated.

The Commission directed the company to submit a compliance plan by Aug. 28, 2026, adding that the plan would be reviewed within two months to determine whether the platform had fulfilled its obligations under the law.

Reacting to the decision, Temu said it respected the objectives of the Digital Services Act but disagreed with the Commission’s findings and described the fine as disproportionate.

A spokesperson for the company said the decision related to its initial DSA assessment conducted in 2024 and did not reflect the current state of its systems.

The company added that it had since strengthened its risk assessment procedures, governance systems and user protection measures, while pledging continued cooperation with regulators.

The fine is the largest issued so far under the Digital Services Act and marks the second enforcement action under the law.

The EU has also launched separate investigations into Shein and AliExpress over allegations relating to unsafe or counterfeit products.