Harmonise NIN, BVN in central database for synergy, FG told

Google uses AI to block 206m scam adverts
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) expert, Ibrahim Olasege, has called for synergy between the National Identity Number (NIN) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) systems in Nigeria to achieve a multipurpose central database.

Olasege, who is a principal computer and network engineer at Dots ICT Institute of Technology, Abeokuta, Ogun State, argued that the integration would create a central database that would enable the government to better track and manage citizens’ data.

Olasege, in a statement, on Wednesday, noted that the benefits of this approach include improved security, greater efficiency, and easier access to essential services.

According to him, the most significant benefit is enhanced security, as the central database would make it more difficult for criminals to access sensitive information.

He added that the centralisation of data would make it easier for the government to track and monitor citizens’ activities, leading to more efficient and effective services.

He explained that the integration would make it easier for citizens to access services such as banking and healthcare, as they would only need to provide a single ID number rather than multiple documents.

He said: “The central database would be more secure than the current fragmented system, and the benefits of enhanced security and efficiency would outweigh the potential privacy concerns.

“The government would need to put safeguards in place to ensure that the data is not misused or abused.”

MEANWHILE, a technology firm, Google, has said it blocked 206.5 million scam advertisements on its platform in 2023.

Google said its safety teams had long used AI-driven machine learning systems to enforce policies at scale, stressing that for years, it had been able to detect and block billions of bad ads before a person ever sees them.

Google in its 2023 Ads Safety Report, said bad actors were constantly evolving their tactics to manipulate digital advertising to scam people and legitimate businesses.

Google Vice President and General Manager of Ads Privacy and Safety, Duncan Lennox, in the report, said: “Overall, we blocked or removed 206.5 million advertisements for violating our misrepresentation policy, which includes many scam tactics, and 273.4 million advertisements for violating our financial services policy.

“We also blocked or removed over one billion advertisements for violating our policy against abusing the ad network, which includes promoting malware.”

“The fight against scam ads is an ongoing effort, as we see bad actors operating with more sophistication, at a greater scale, using new tactics such as deepfakes to deceive people.”