 |
| gbenga sesan, Executive Director, PIN |
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) has made a case for more information regarding the recently alleged award of Internet surveillance contract by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration worth $40 million, about N63.1 million.
DigitalSENSE Business News
recalls that Command and Control server for FinFisher, a product described by
its distributor, Gamma International as “Governmental IT Intrusion and Remote
Monitoring Solutions” was alleged to have been engaged and spotted in Nigeria.
The
FoI request letter was dispatched on Monday, May 6, 2013, DigitalSENSE Business News can
confirm and it has been received by the office of the President's Special
Adviser on Media & Publicity.
According
to PIN Executive Director, Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan, who confirmed this to DigitalSENSE Business News, the Nigerian
FinFisher server was listed in a new report by the Citizen Lab and the Canada
Centre for Global Security Studies at the University of Toronto, Canada.
He
also said that the May 1, 2013, report, "For Their Eyes Only: The
Commercialization of Digital Spying", is available on the Citizen Lab
website via https://citizenlab.org/for-their-eyes-only.
Speaking
on this development Sesan noted that nation states must understand that in this
age of quick information turnaround, it is difficult to conceal intentions and actions
that could have huge impact on Internet Freedom.
“For
Nigeria, in particular, the country's history and possible future (context)
makes it all the more important to watch out for threats to Internet Freedom,”
he said, adding that reports that Nigeria awarded a $40m Internet surveillance
contract, and the fact that the 2013 budget has provisions for same, is
noteworthy.
Also
commenting, PIN’s ICT Policy Officer, Godson Ogumka, said that the fact that
Nigeria is taking steps towards Internet surveillance while the Lawful Interception
and Data Privacy bills have not been thoroughly discussed for possible
legislative approval raises due concerns.
Equally,
the chief operating officer for PIN, Mrs. Tope Ogundipe, explained why PIN made
the Freedom of Information (FoI) request, maintaining that in PIN's ICT Policy
work over five years, “we have had reason to lead campaigns because of
legislative language that could hurt Internet Freedom. We are now worried that
various actions by government hold the potential of hurting Internet Freedom in
Nigeria.”
As
said by her, the letter conveying PIN’s FoI request has been received by the office
of the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity.
“As
stated in the Freedom of Information law, signed into law by President Goodluck
Jonathan, we expect a response to our query within 7 days,” she said.
Further,
she said that the letter signed by PIN's Executive Director, Mr. ‘Gbenga Sesan,
was dated May 2, 2013.
“…
We requested relevant records, documents and information on the alleged $40m
Internet surveillance contract, as supported by the 2013 budget. We requested
details of the contract and its award process, and we have provided adequate
contact information; e mail, phone numbers, Lagos and Abuja office addresses
for feedback,” she said.
Remmy Nweke/DigitalSENSE Business News
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
1 comment:
Here comes an act of policing the Internet....which is not acceptable and has to be discussed in the upcoming NIGF
Post a Comment