The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has accused social networking platform, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) of failing to comply with tax filing requirements.
The NITDA stated this in a report titled “Analysis of Compliance with Laws and Misinformation Management by Social Media Platforms in Nigeria.”
NITDA which said in the report that it is seeking to create a transparent and digitally responsible ecosystem also sought to ensure and enforce compliance.
This development it was noted is a breach of the country’s regulatory framework.
In the NITDA report obtained by PRNigeria, it was however stated that organisations like Google, LinkedIn, and Meta have met their tax compliance obligations as outlined in Part III, Sections 3–1, and Part II, Section 10 of the “Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries (CoP for ICSP/II).”
The NITDA urged companies to prioritise compliance.
It emphasised that conformity to the Code of Practice is crucial for cultivating trust, ensuring user safety, and preventing the misuse of digital platforms for damaging purposes.
It would be recalled that in 2022, the NITDA introduced the code in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The Code aims to mitigate online harm, promote accountability and create a safer digital environment.
Part II, Section 10 of the Code mandates Large Service Platforms (LSPs) to submit annual compliance reports to NITDA to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and foster transparency.
It also requires the establishment of physical offices, the appointment of liaison officers for government communication, and the engagement of certified fact-checkers. Already, major LSPs have registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The NITDA report further notes the significant content moderation efforts undertaken by LSPs, including actions on fake accounts and harmful content — child pornography, hate speech, and misinformation.
As of 2023, many accounts in Nigeria were closed for breaching the NITDA Code and the community rules of different platforms: 9,610,054 on Google; 691,596 on LinkedIn; 599,776 on TikTok, and 1,198,205 on X.
The platforms also deleted millions of posts that violated the provisions of the Code and community guidelines: 59,670,247 posts on Google; 237,837 on LinkedIn; 4,578,858 on TikTok, and 168,500 on X.
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