When will it go viral? The menace of leaked private chats

 

By; Marzuq Ungogo

Every now and then, a recorded phone call or private voice chat finds its way into the internet. I am not sure about the statistics from other parts of the world, but the rate at which private audios leak in Northern Nigeria is very alarming. Unfortunately, the issue is even more widespread with text chats being “screenshot” and shared. To be very clear, my concern doesn’t include efforts to catch corrupt government officials red-handed or criminals. I am talking about chats between two private citizens.

The most embarrassing of the leaked audios recently were phone calls between the overzealous and controversial Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara and several Kano ulamah. Apparently, the sheikhs would call one another and secretly press a record button.

There are many other instances, but it appeared one of the people in the conversations always recorded and shared them. How the voice notes or audio recordings got leaked into public space is surprising, because the leak hardly  benefits any of the parties e.g. a village wife and her secret lover who is also married.

In political and government circle, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi once lamented that people would come to you and ask your opinion about an issue or people and record the answers without your knowledge. Whatever you say in the comfort of your living room with a guest can end up recorded sent to your opponents or competitors. 

It appears that anyone may record your conversation without your consent these days. From politicians, jilted lovers, religious scholars to royalties, many people seemed to have thrown decency to the dogs. It’s just so pathetic. Its not acceptable in any religion or culture in the world. So please don’t record anyone without their consent. Don’t screenshot and share your chats with people especially if that has the potential of embarrassing them. 

I think If a strict law is not passed and enforced on this encroachment of people’s privacy, soon we will start asking “when will it go viral?” after we discuss a sensitive issue with anyone..