By Stellamaris Ashinze
Experts on Wednesday warned that rapid advances in emerging technologies are outpacing existing laws and exposing citizens to increased risks of data misuse.
The experts, who spoke at a panel discussion during the 2026 World Data Privacy Day celebration, said that data misuse risks was increasing across critical sectors such as healthcare, banking and digital services.
The World Data Privacy Day celebration was organised by the Data and Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI), a non-profit organisation in Lagos.
The event had the theme: “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”
Data Privacy Day (known in Europe as Data Protection Day) is an international event that occurs every year on 28 January.
The purpose of the Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices. It is currently observed in the United States, Canada, Qatar, Nigeria, Israel and 47 European countries.
Speaking on data protection in healthcare, the Chief Executive Officer of Cedarcrest Hospital, Dr Kunle Onakoya, explained that patients, as data subjects, often unknowingly surrender sensitive personal information beyond the immediate scope of medical care.
He said that while patients assumed that their medical records are accessed only within hospitals, advances in technology now allow diagnostic data such as CT scans and MRIs to be shared across borders for interpretation by remote specialists.
“What many patients do not realise is that their medical data, complete with personal details, may be accessed by third parties sitting in countries such as India, Singapore or China,” Onakoya said.
He noted that although such practices could improve diagnostic outcomes, patients are rarely informed that their data are being shared remotely, sometimes for commercial purposes.
The healthcare expert also cited instances where health data originally collected for care was later repurposed for marketing and business development without the patients’ consent.
According to him, weak regulation allows organisations to exploit technological capabilities.
“Data given strictly for healthcare is now being aggregated and used for purposes far removed from care, and in many cases, there is no law guiding the technology being used,” he added.
On the role of emerging technologies, a technology specialist, Mrs Roseline Ilori, stressed the need for “privacy by design,” urging organisations to embed data protection principles at the earliest stages of product development.
“Privacy cannot be an afterthought. It must be built into systems from the foundation,” she said.
Ilori illustrated the scale of data collection on digital platforms, noting that streaming services could collect tens of thousands of data points within seconds of user engagement.
According to her, beyond system design, accountability and transparency are key to building trust.
She said organisations must clearly explain why data was being collected and how it would be used, in line with the principle of purpose limitation.
“Trust is demonstrated, not promised. Organisations must show users how their data is being used and engage them continuously,” she said.
Ilori also called for human-centred technology development, stressing that artificial intelligence should support, rather than replace, human decision making.
From the financial services perspective, Mr Justus Osuji, the President, Information Systems Audit and Control Association, ISACA, Lagos Chapter, said that data had become the backbone of banking operations, enabling institutions to make informed lending and investment decisions.
“Banks may not necessarily rely on customers’ cash alone, but on data that helps identify who has funds and who needs them,” he said.
Osuji noted that stricter data privacy regulations were compelling banks and fintech companies to innovate responsibly, introducing clearer rules on data collection, classification and usage.
He explained that banks were now required to inform customers of the purpose of data collection and ensure data minimisation, storage limitation and secure handling in line with regulatory requirements.
“Customers now have the right to question why their data is being requested, and there are limits to how long such data can be stored and used,” he said.
Osuji added that banks had strengthened data security through encryption and safeguards for data, both in transit and at rest, particularly as cloud computing and digital inclusion expanded.
The panelists agreed that while data remained vital for innovation and economic growth, organisations must balance its use with ethics, transparency and strong privacy protections to maintain public trust. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Christiana Fadare
