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Tracking technologies such as cookies, trackers, web beacons and so on are used by businesses to collect, store and share information about user activities on digital platforms. These tracking technologies have been transformative for many online businesses that have leveraged their capabilities to target users with advertisements. However, tracking technologies can be privacy nightmares as they can profile users across various platforms, share data without authorisation, and users may not even know how their personal data is collected, how it is stored, whom it is shared with, and for what purpose.

This report explored tracking technologies in Nigeria across various sectors by examining their privacy and cookie notices and accessing their web and mobile applications. It used technical tools to examine ten (10) sectors in Nigeria to determine their use of cookies, trackers, permissions and third-party tracking. It also examined the legal provisions for tracking technologies in Nigeria and changing trends in the ecosystem, such as the rise of super cookies, internet of behaviour, data brokerage and the use of privacy-preserving technologies.

Our findings reveal that many of the privacy/cookie notices we examined lacked the transparency that genuinely reflects the processing activities carried out, are too complex to read, or make untrue claims.

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