Paradigm Initiative to sue NIMC, NDPC over Nigerians BVN, other data leak

Paradigm Initiative has declared its intention to pursue legal action against the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Paradigm Initiative made this announcement in a statement on Saturday.

It stated that the suit seeks to compel them to take concrete steps to address data privacy concerns.

The suit follows the latest data leak, which exposed sensitive information of Nigerians.

These include personal data such as the National Identity Number (NIN), the Bank Verification Number (BVN), a virtual NIN, Driving License, International Passport, Company details, Tax Identification Number (TIN), Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and Phone Numbers.

Paradigm Initiative said all these are sold by this website to any interested party for the sum of N100.00 for each data request.

It added that the data leak website was visited 567,990 times in February 2024 and 188,360) times in April 2024.

According to Paradigm Initiative, previous data leaks, such as the one in March 2024, were met with mere press statements and inadequate regulatory responses, failing to address the root causes of the issue.

It stated, “Following our press conference on another website that was selling sensitive data of Nigerians, including those of high-profile government officials and security agents, AnyVerify.com.ng has now been taken offline. We are taking legal action to force @nimc_ng and @ndpcngr to do the right thing this time, unlike the March 2024 leak (and others before) that ended with press statements and inadequate regulatory action.

“As a part of that process, we archived the website that has now been taken offline to hide trails, we have proof that they were selling data through chat apps, we set up an account that easily bought the NIN slips of the Digital Economy Minister and National Commissioner of Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission, and we have found many other such websites that are still active online!”

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