Experts have warned that the rapid evolution of emerging technologies is moving faster than existing legal frameworks, exposing citizens to growing risks of data misuse across key sectors.
The warning was issued on Wednesday during a panel discussion held as part of the 2026 World Data Privacy Day celebration in Lagos.
The event, organised by the Data and Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI), focused on the theme “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation.”
World Data Privacy Day, also known as Data Protection Day in Europe, is marked annually on January 28 to promote awareness of data protection and responsible privacy practices. The observance spans several countries, including Nigeria, the United States, Canada, Qatar, Israel and multiple European nations.
Speaking on data protection challenges in healthcare, the Chief Executive Officer of Cedarcrest Hospital, Dr Kunle Onakoya, noted that patients often unknowingly relinquish sensitive personal information beyond what is required for medical treatment.
According to him, while patients typically assume their records remain within hospital systems, advances in technology now allow medical data such as CT scans and MRI results to be transmitted across borders for interpretation by remote specialists.
“Many patients are unaware that their personal medical information may be accessed by third parties in countries like India, Singapore or China,” Onakoya said.
He acknowledged that such data sharing could enhance diagnostic accuracy, but stressed that patients are rarely informed when their information is transmitted remotely or used for secondary purposes.
The healthcare expert further pointed out that medical data initially collected for treatment is sometimes repurposed for marketing or business development without patient consent, a situation he attributed to weak regulatory oversight.
“Information meant strictly for healthcare is now being aggregated and applied to uses far removed from patient care, often without clear legal guidance on the technologies involved,” he added.
On technology governance, a digital innovation specialist, Mrs Roseline Ilori, emphasised the importance of adopting “privacy by design,” urging organisations to embed data protection principles at the earliest stages of system development.
“Privacy should never be an afterthought; it must be built into digital systems from the very beginning,” she said.
Ilori highlighted the scale of modern data harvesting, explaining that digital platforms such as streaming services could collect tens of thousands of data points within seconds of user interaction.
She stressed that transparency and accountability were essential for building user trust, noting that organisations must clearly communicate why data is collected and how it will be used.
“Trust is not claimed; it is earned. Users must see and understand how their data is handled,” she said.
Ilori also advocated for human-centred technology, warning that artificial intelligence should enhance human decision-making rather than replace it entirely.
From the financial sector, the President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Lagos Chapter, Mr Justus Osuji, described data as the foundation of modern banking operations.
“Financial institutions increasingly rely on data to identify who has funds and who needs them, rather than depending solely on physical cash,” he said.
Osuji explained that stricter data privacy regulations were pushing banks and fintech firms toward more responsible innovation, with clearer rules on data collection, classification and usage.
He added that customers now have the right to question data requests, while organisations are required to apply principles such as data minimisation, limited storage periods and secure handling.
According to him, banks have also strengthened data protection measures through encryption and improved safeguards for data in transit and at rest, particularly with the expansion of cloud services and digital financial inclusion.
The panelists agreed that while data remains essential for innovation and economic growth, organisations must strike a balance between technological advancement and ethical responsibility to maintain public trust.