BREAKING: National Assembly Passes 2025 Cybercrimes Act, Tough Penalties for Online Offenses
Abuja, Nigeria – The National Assembly, under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has passed the 2025 Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, now signed into law by the Federal Government.
Jungle-Journalist.Com reports that the new legislation, which immediately comes into effect nationwide, introduces stringent measures to regulate digital activities and combat online crimes. It applies to all internet users, including social media content creators, online administrators, and digital platform operators.
Key Provisions and Penalties
The Act outlines a series of offenses with corresponding penalties aimed at curbing cybercrimes and promoting responsible online behavior:
- Unauthorized Access to Devices (Section 3)
- Accessing another person’s phone, computer, or digital device without permission.
- Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment.
- Tampering with Digital Data (Section 4)
- Altering, deleting, or obstructing digital data without lawful authority.
- Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment.
- Disclosure of Critical Information (Section 5)
- Sharing sensitive or classified data with unauthorized individuals.
- Penalty: Up to 15 years imprisonment.
- Recording Private Conversations (Section 10)
- Capturing private discussions without legal authorization, even as a participant.
- Penalty: Up to 2 years imprisonment.
- Publishing False or Misleading Information (Section 19)
- Disseminating fake news or deceptive content online.
- Penalty: Up to 2 years imprisonment.
- Online Harassment and Abuse (Section 22)
- Posting offensive, vulgar, or humiliating content targeting individuals.
- Penalty: Up to 2 years imprisonment.
- Inciting Ethnic or Religious Hatred (Section 24)
- Promoting ethnic, religious, or tribal hatred through statements online or offline.
- Penalty: Life imprisonment.
Liability for Group Administrators
Admins of WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, Telegram channels, and other online communities can be held responsible for illegal content posted by members if they knowingly allow such posts or fail to moderate effectively.
Digital Responsibility is Key
Authorities warn that ignorance of the law will not be accepted as a defense. Nigerians are urged to verify content before sharing and maintain strict compliance to avoid prosecution.
The enactment of the 2025 Cybercrimes Act underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to sanitize Nigeria’s digital space and ensure online accountability.