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Summary: Naija Feminists Media hosted an X Space on digital rights and online censorship, where experts spoke on how women face targeted online harassment and called for stronger protections, safer platforms, and greater awareness of digital rights.
Naija Feminists Media (NFM) hosted an X Space titled “Defending Digital Rights and Resisting Online Censorship” on Friday, March 20, 2026, as part of activities marking the World Day Against Cyber Censorship. The X Space had over 130 listeners who actively participated in the discussion.
The day promotes a free, open, and accessible internet for all. Established in 2009, the World Day Against Cyber Censorship raises awareness about government-imposed restrictions, censorship, and violations of digital rights while encouraging global action to protect freedom of expression online.
The X space featured journalist Ogeyi Ebinyi, cybersecurity professional Gbemisola Esho, and women’s rights advocate Oluwafunmbi Ogunsola, who was represented by NFM founder Simbiat Bakare. The speakers shared practical strategies for resisting censorship, protecting women activists online, and strengthening legal protections for feminist voices, while also advocating for a safer and more inclusive digital space.
Ogeyi Ebinyi described the current state of digital rights in Nigeria and globally as a high-stakes struggle between expanding regulations and shrinking civic space. According to her, governments continue to introduce policies aimed at regulating online activity in the name of safety and privacy.
She noted that many Nigerians are unaware of the digital rights protections available to them under Nigerian law and stressed the importance of public awareness. Ogeyi also highlighted the need for stronger interventions to protect women from censorship and reminded participants that online activities can still be traced despite perceptions of anonymity.
Speaking on behalf of Oluwafunmbi, Simbiat explained that women experience cyber censorship differently from men. She said many women are excluded from digital spaces due to the online violence they face, including body shaming, doxxing, and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create non-consensual images of women.
She also cited NFM’s experience, noting that the organisation’s account was previously locked while advocating against violence toward women. According to her, such intimidation discourages women from speaking publicly or identifying with feminist movements online.
Simbiat added that repeated harassment and attacks have forced many women to withdraw from online conversations altogether.
Cybersecurity expert Gbemisola identified doxxing and the exposure of private information as some of the biggest cybersecurity threats facing women and girls today. She referenced recent incidents where women who spoke out online were targeted with threats and harassment.
She advised women to take steps to protect themselves digitally, including managing their digital footprint, reviewing privacy settings on social media platforms, limiting who can access personal information and restricting app permissions. Gbemisola also encouraged women to avoid posting real-time locations online and to maintain clear physical and digital boundaries when interacting with people they meet on the internet.
Concluding the discussion, NFM founder Simbiat Bakare emphasised the need for social media platforms to take stronger action against misogyny and harmful content, stating that misogyny and rape culture should be treated as a crime in online spaces.
She added that platform policies must prioritise the safety of women and be grounded in feminist values, ensuring women can express themselves without fear of harassment or bullying.
Simbiat also called for stricter measures to curb abusive and offensive comments targeted at women on social media.
