Google, LinkedIn, TikTok Removed Over 28 Million Nigerian Accounts in 2024 to Combat Fraud — NITDA

The Federal Government has revealed that Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok removed more than 28 million Nigerian accounts in 2024 as part of a coordinated effort to tackle online fraud, impersonation, and harmful digital content. The crackdown was driven by a partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and major global social platforms.

The disclosure was made by NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, during the National Symposium on Digital Innovation in Crisis Communication at the National Defence College, Abuja.

28 Million+ Accounts Removed, Nearly 59 Million Content Items Taken Down

According to Abdullahi, the mass takedown aims to reduce online fraud and strengthen crisis management mechanisms.

Key enforcement figures include:

• Google: 9,680,141 accounts removed for scams, impersonation, and harmful content
• LinkedIn: Nearly 16 million accounts deleted
• TikTok: Millions of accounts acted upon under its content moderation policy

In total, 58.9 million pieces of content were removed across platforms. However, 420,000 posts were reinstated following user appeals and internal reviews.

LinkedIn’s High Fraud Numbers Raise Alarms

Abdullahi expressed particular concern over LinkedIn’s large volume of fraudulent accounts, noting that the platform is widely regarded as a professional space.

“For me, this is outrageous because LinkedIn is mostly a professional site. So why are people using it to cause crises and other things? They use it for impersonation and social engineering to defraud organisations and individuals,” he said.

He emphasised that the government and tech companies have established clear procedures for account takedowns and reinstatements to prevent misuse or overreach.

Strengthened Cooperation With Big Tech and Regulatory Reforms

NITDA highlighted that collaboration with global platforms has improved communication channels and strengthened regulatory systems such as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), which led to the formation of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The 2024 digital safety compliance report further revealed:

• 13 million+ social media accounts deleted across multiple platforms
• 754,629 complaints filed by Nigerian users
• 58,909,122 harmful content items removed
• 420,439 posts reinstated after appeal reviews

Why Stronger Digital Safety Systems Are Needed

Abdullahi warned that false information spreads six times faster than verified facts, worsening crises, enabling fraud, and causing economic disruption.

He cited recent episodes where misleading content triggered significant financial losses, stressing the need for rapid verification systems, stronger crisis communication frameworks, and more resilient national digital safety structures.

The 2023 compliance report showed an even higher volume of takedowns, with 65,853,581 content items removed and 4,125,283 user complaints, underscoring the scale of harmful content Nigerian users face online.