Abstract

The post-World-Wars era saw unprecedented growth and proliferation of the internet and other relevant technologies engendering increased human reliance on technologies, particularly in the last couple of decades. The development has transformed communication and opened opportunities for cybernauts from all angles of the globe to exploit the flexibility of the technologies to accomplish many hitherto time-consuming, energy-depleting and resource-draining tasks. Thus, the internet penetrates all spheres of human endeavour in a manner that makes it virtually indispensable in modern-day’s life. However, despite the plethora of advantages embedded in Internet technologies, its porosity and complexity nurture unwarranted surveillance in a manner that challenges the privacy laws meant to protect individuals’ right to control access to their private data. Therefore, based on Jonh Naughton’s argument that “the internet is the nearest thing to a perfect surveillance machine the world has ever seen”, this paper examines online surveillance and the extent of internet users’ data violations and abuses in the internet-driven world.

Key Words: Data, Internet Users, Online Surveillance, Privacy.

About the Authors

*      Bashiru Usman is a lecturer at Department of Mass Communication, Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, Nigeria. He is interested in Digital Media (Social and New Media) and Society, Media Literacy and Journalism.

**    Eserinune McCarty Mojaye, Ph.D., ORCID: 0000-0002-9571-7201, is a Professor of Mass Communication and Director, Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies, (OOCAS), National Open University of Nigeria, Jabi, Abuja, Nigeria.

*** Aondover Eric Msughter is of the Department of Mass Communication, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Nigeria. His areas of research interest include: Media and Conflict, Political Communication, Digital Media, Media and Society, Media and Gender, Development Communication, and Media Literacy.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 15, No. 1, Special Issue 3, July 2023, pp. 118-128

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

Article Citation

Usman, B., Mojaye, E. M. & Msughter A. E. (2023). Online surveillance and data privacy of internet users: A discourse. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 15 (1, SP.3): 118-128.

Full Article

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