Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act & the Challenges of Controlling Explicit Content: A Foucauldian Analysis

Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act faces challenges in controlling explicit content, according to a recent analysis applying Michel Foucault’s framework. The Act criminalizes the posting of pornographic content or leaking sex tapes on the internet, with offenders facing fines, imprisonment, or both. However, the effectiveness of these punitive measures depends on the state’s ability to identify and prosecute perpetrators in the digital realm. Michel Foucault’s concept of the Panopticon, a prison design allowing constant surveillance, is relevant in understanding the Act’s surveillance aspect. The threat of legal sanctions serves as a form of surveillance, deterring potential offenders from posting explicit content. However, challenges in enforcement, resource allocation, and potential infringement upon individual freedoms need to be addressed. The Act’s provisions should strike a balance between protecting individuals from explicit content and safeguarding the right to free speech. Moreover, Nigeria’s cultural diversity necessitates sensitivity and public discourse to establish a consensus on acceptable online behavior. Overall, the analysis highlights the complex interplay of surveillance, normalization, and power relations in Nigeria’s approach to regulating explicit content. Adherence to the guidelines of consistent enforcement, protection of freedom of expression, and cultural context is crucial in striking an effective balance.