A Nigerian lawyer recently emphasized the legal implications of sharing screenshots of private conversations without obtaining consent from the other party.
In a video shared online, the lawyer pointed out that such actions are in violation of Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, which staunchly opposes the sharing of chat screenshots without permission.
The lawyer emphasized that this act constitutes a breach of an individual’s right to privacy, a matter of significant concern.
He stated, “Do you know that unless somebody grants you his consent, you don’t have the right to screenshot your chats with any other person on your DM and post it on your timeline or Whatsapp status. In Nigeria, specifically in section 37 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that is a violation of the person’s right to privacy.”
What adds to the complexity of this issue is the practice of individuals screenshotting their last conversations with deceased individuals and sharing them on public platforms like their timelines or Whatsapp statuses. This too, the lawyer highlighted, is a breach of the law, as the deceased person, if alive, might not have been comfortable with their private chat being made public.
Chapter 4, Section 37 of the Nigerian constitution explicitly addresses the matter of national protection and the right to privacy, stating,
“The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected.”
This constitutional provision underscores the importance of safeguarding an individual’s privacy and the legal consequences of infringing upon it.
| LIB
