NHRC Warns AI Could Threaten Rights Ahead Of 2027 Polls
NHRC Sounds Alarm on AI, Censorship and Digital Inequality Ahead of 2027 Elections
A Growing Digital Rights Debate
NIGERIA’S National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned that the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies could pose serious risks to civil liberties if not governed by strong ethical and human rights frameworks.
The warning was delivered by NHRC Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, at a national digital rights conference in Abuja organised by ASF France alongside Spaces for Change and CITAD, with support from the European Union.
The conference culminated in the launch of the National Digital Rights Report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of online freedoms, surveillance trends and regulatory gaps in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Promise Versus Peril of AI
Ojukwu acknowledged the transformative potential of AI in driving innovation, efficiency and economic development. However, he cautioned that without oversight, these same tools could reinforce discrimination, enable mass surveillance and restrict access to justice.
He warned that opaque algorithms and unregulated data use could entrench inequality, particularly affecting women, youth, minorities and economically disadvantaged communities.
International Norms and National Responsibility
Referencing international Business and Human Rights standards, Ojukwu stressed that governments must ensure digital technologies comply with human rights obligations.
He explained that states are required to protect citizens from digital harms, while businesses must respect human rights through responsible design and deployment of technology. Victims, he added, must also have access to effective remedies.
NHRC’s Strategy on Digital Governance
The NHRC is currently monitoring digital rights trends through a monthly dashboard and engaging technology companies to encourage ethical AI development.
Ojukwu revealed that the Commission is collaborating with Meta and working alongside NITDA and civil society groups to address algorithmic bias, privacy breaches and online misinformation.
Digital Space and Democratic Participation
ASF France Country Director, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, said the stakes are especially high as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections.
She warned that digital platforms, while expanding civic participation, have also become tools for intimidation and repression, particularly against journalists and activists.
Calls for Open and Safe Digital Spaces
Speakers from CITAD, NIJALS and Spaces for Change collectively urged Nigerian authorities to prioritise digital freedoms as part of democratic governance.
They warned that overregulation and censorship could undermine innovation, public trust and electoral credibility.
A Defining Moment
Participants agreed that Nigeria stands at a crossroads, where choices made today about AI governance and digital rights will shape the country’s democratic and economic future.
