- A Nigerian lawyer has warned that sharing private chats without consent is illegal, citing a case where someone was jailed in 2026 for forwarding a WhatsApp conversation.
- He stressed that private messages are legally protected and that screenshots or forwarded chats could attract legal consequences.
A Nigerian lawyer has stirred debate online after cautioning Nigerians against sharing private conversations without consent, warning that such actions carry serious legal consequences.
According to the lawyer, the first individual reportedly jailed in 2026 was convicted for forwarding a private WhatsApp conversation with a friend that occurred in 2025.
He explained that possessing a conversation on one’s phone does not grant the right to share it with third parties. Private communications, he noted, are legally protected and cannot be distributed without the consent of all parties involved.
The lawyer emphasized that privacy laws extend beyond courtrooms and law books, applying to everyday digital interactions on platforms such as WhatsApp, email, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
He added that forwarding messages without permission may amount to a violation of privacy and unlawful processing of personal data, except where done for legitimate and lawful purposes.
Urging Nigerians to exercise caution, he warned that screenshots, forwarded chats, and shared private messages could lead to legal consequences. His remarks have since triggered widespread discussions online, with many questioning their online sharing habits.
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