IPC, CEMESO Advocate Digital Rights and Cybersecurity Awareness Ahead of the 2027 Elections
As technology increasingly shapes journalism and accelerates the spread of information during election periods, journalists and media practitioners have been urged to be more vigilant in how they...
As technology increasingly shapes journalism and accelerates the spread of information during election periods, journalists and media practitioners have been urged to be more vigilant in how they engage online and to strengthen their cybersecurity awareness ahead of the coming elections.
These insights were shared during a webinar on Digital Rights, Election Reporting and Cybersecurity organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, with support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria II. Participants were also urged to understand laws that could hinder them from carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
The webinar acknowledged the benefits of technology for modern journalism while also stressing that its risks have become more complex. Beyond physical attacks and intimidation, journalists now face cyber harassment, unlawful surveillance, account breaches, online trolling, arbitrary arrests linked to digital expression, and the misuse of cybercrime laws to suppress public interest journalism.
Speaking as a facilitator on digital rights and freedom of expression in the election context, during the webinar, Professor Adebola Aderibigbe of the Faculty of Media Studies at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti explained that the technological advancement has its direct impacts on how information is circulated during the elections, referring to social media and artificial intelligence.
Professor Aderibigbe further explained that, unlike in the past when election coverage focused mainly on politicians’ physical activities, technology has moved much of the process online. He noted that social media is now often used to manipulate information, while some users promote hate speech, cyberbullying, and the use of synthetic tools to alter images, audio, and videos to create deepfakes and mislead the public.
He further explained that because digital platforms now shape narratives and serve as spaces for political engagement, public opinion, electoral credibility, democratic accountability, and access to information, journalists must understand how they work. He added that everyone who uses the internet has digital rights, which are as important online as fundamental human rights are offline.
He went on to list the digital rights, which include “the right to privacy, the right to protect personal data, the right to express opinions online, the right to access information, the right to participate safely in debate, the right not to be harassed or silenced – if a right is important offline, it is important online.”
He emphasised that freedom of expression must thrive in a democratic society because it protects journalists from intimidation, enables them to perform their duties during elections, and supports political debate and accountability. However, he warned against using journalism to spread hate speech, political intimidation, disinformation, or online harassment.
He also encouraged journalists to improve their technological awareness so they can use social media for faster information flow, greater citizen participation, real-time engagement, and wider political access. At the same time, he urged them to remain alert to the dangers of social media, including false information, manipulated narratives, coordinated propaganda, and viral misinformation.
While calling for the rapid adoption of new technology, he urged journalists to treat digital rights as human rights. “Freedom of expression is a responsibility, not a shield. Verify before you forward—WhatsApp urgency is not evidence. Personal data is protected by law—NDPA 2023 applies to you too. Ask before you publish: Does the public need this, or am I exposing someone?”
The professor concluded by reminding journalists that their role now goes beyond traditional event reporting. In the digital public sphere, they must also help protect democratic credibility, as technology has transformed elections, journalism, and public participation.
Speaking on election reporting, cybersecurity, and online risks, Dr Qasim Akinreti, Head of Digital Media at Voice of Nigeria, Abuja, said that while journalism has always involved danger, technology has widened the range of threats journalists face, especially when covering elections.
He explained that, in addition to physical attacks, journalists now face surveillance and tracking, with security agencies and state actors often intercepting communications, monitoring digital activity, and tracking phone locations without warrants, particularly when reporting on sensitive issues such as security crises, high-profile trials, or elections.
Dr Akinreti also said the Cybercrime Act has been weaponised to arrest, harass, and imprison journalists for critical reporting or exposing corruption. He added that media professionals increasingly face hacking, malware, and phishing attacks aimed at taking over social media accounts, stealing sensitive data, or exposing confidential sources.
He noted that journalists’ private contact details are often leaked online, leading to severe cyberbullying and reputational attacks. He also pointed out that female journalists in Nigeria face disproportionate levels of gender-based online harassment, sexual threats, and intimidation intended to undermine their professional standing.
As a result, he urged journalists to be security-conscious and understand their digital rights ahead of the coming elections. He said they must be proactive and security-aware, with strong protective protocols in place to defend themselves against sophisticated threats and carry out their work effectively.
He also called for greater digital literacy to help journalists identify and close the gaps that make them vulnerable, and he urged collective action against misinformation and disinformation.
Dr Akinreti further advised journalists to identify the specific threats they face based on their location and the types of stories they cover. He encouraged them to research the capabilities of potential adversaries, assess the likelihood of hacking, surveillance, or legal data requests, regularly review the sensitive data they leave behind, and learn about digital risks in their region by consulting peers or resources such as SaferJourno.
He also advised journalists to use strong, unique passwords, avoid reusing passwords across accounts, and rely on secure password managers. He urged them to enable multi-factor authentication on all online accounts, keep devices up to date, use biometric security where possible, and be cautious about the applications they install.
He further called on the government to enact stronger laws to protect journalists from cyberattacks on their devices and to address digital threats against the media, especially during elections.
In his remarks, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, reminded journalists that as democracy increasingly moves into digital spaces, election reporting is no longer limited to observing events at polling units on election day. It now extends into cyberspace, where journalists must navigate surveillance, online harassment, hacking, and campaigns of misinformation and disinformation.
He added that despite reforms aimed at protecting freedom of expression, journalists continue to face prosecution through the weaponisation of cybercrime laws. According to him, at least 29 Nigerian journalists have been prosecuted under the Cybercrimes Act since 2015, and more than 40 incidents involving journalists have been recorded during election and political coverage in recent years.
He therefore called for sustained efforts to build journalists’ capacity in digital security tools, fact-checking methods, secure communication systems, and ethical election reporting, while also strengthening institutional safeguards for press freedom both online and offline.
Speaking on the importance of the discussion, Dr Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), said journalists working online are increasingly vulnerable to attacks as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, and they must be equipped to handle the growing challenges posed by technology.
He urged journalists to verify information before sharing it. “When you verify before you publish, you strengthen the evidentiary foundation of democratic life. When you protect your sources, you keep open the channels through which truth reaches the public. When you refuse to be intimidated into silence, you preserve the space in which accountability journalism can exist,” he concluded.
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