Ditch WhatsApp For Other Secured Messaging App - NITDA

The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has advised Nigerians to desist from the use of WhatsApp and consider embracing other social media platforms that guarantee the security of user’s information.

WhatsApp's new policy, which was enforced on 15 May for its users worldwide grants WhatsApp the right to share users’ data with Facebook and its companies except for countries under the European Union. The new policy allows WhatsApp users the liberty to decide whether to give out consent to processing their data.

NITDA Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations Hadiza Umar, released a statement on Tuesday which stated that the new policy will automatically share personal data such as account information; messages (including undelivered messages, media forwarding); connections; status information; transactions and payments data; usage and log information; device and connection information; location information; and cookies, battery level; signal strength; app version; browser information; mobile network; connection information (including phone number, mobile operator or ISP), language and time zone; Internet Protocol address; device operations information and social media identifiers, ICIR reported.

Responding, Facebook assured users who had accepted the new policy that private messages shared on WhatsApp consumer version were encrypted and not seen by the company, the metadata (data about the usage of the service), which are also personal information, would be shared with other members of its subsidiaries.

According to Facebook, these data would be shared with its companies to further enhance, “operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products.”

NITDA, however, advised Nigerians to limit the sharing of sensitive personal information on private messaging and social media platforms as the initial promise of privacy and security was now being overridden on the basis of business exigency.

“Nigerians should note that there are other available platforms with similar functionalities which they may wish to explore. Choice of a platform should consider data sharing practices, privacy, ease of use among others.”

NITDA further stated that it was engaging with Facebook to find a better way of protecting the data of Nigerians.

“We have given them our opinion on areas to improve compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). We have also raised concerns as to the marked difference between the privacy standard applicable in Europe, under the GDPR and the rest of the world.

“Given the foregoing and other emerging issues around international technology companies, NITDA, with stakeholders, is exploring all options to ensure Nigerians do not become victims of digital colonialism. Our national security, dignity and individual privacy are cherished considerations we must not lose.”

It added that it would work with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to organise a hackathon for Nigerians to pitch solutions that could provide services offering functional alternatives to existing global social platforms.

List Of Other Social Media Messaging App Available In Nigeria, Their Parent Country

SoftTalk – Nigeria

Youtube – U.S.

Telegram - Russia

Twitter – U.S.

LinkedIn – U.S.

Tiktok - China

Snapchat – U.S.

Pinterest – U.S.

Skype - Sweden and Denmark