By correspondent.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, Nigerian Communication Commission,NCC, Dr.Aminu Maida, has called on Artificial Intelligence developers to be transparent about the data, algorithms, and models used in AI systems.
He made the call on Friday in his remarks at the 2024 World Consumer Right Day with the theme, “Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer”, held at the headquarters of the Commission, Maitama,Abuja.
Represented by represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services Designate at NCC, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, the EVC/CEO said that his call became necessary to also ensure that decisions made by AI could be explained and mistakes fixed to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their background.
According to Maida, it will also help to prevent biased decisions or discrimination, thereby promoting inclusivity and equality.
He said that the Commission, in alignment with the global trend, adopted the theme for this years’ edition of World Consumer Rights Day as “Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the Consumer”.
Maida affirmed that the theme of this year would be an integral part of NCC’s activities, “considering that AI is a force that is shaping our future in profound ways.”
According to him,”AI holds incredible potential to improve our lives, but it also challenges us to think critically about how we harness this power responsibly.
” Our continuous resolve to Protect, Inform and Educate (PIE Mandate),the telecom consumer is unwavering, particularly as AI technologies continue to advance, there is need foster innovation while safeguarding fundamental rights, values, and dignity of consumers.
The NCC described Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a phenomenon that has captured the imagination of scientists, engineers, and thinkers for decades.
He added that AI represents the culmination of human innovation and the quest to create machines that could mimic human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.
Maida noted that AI had made significant inroads into human lives, “from voice assistants that respond to our commands to recommendation algorithms that suggest what we should watch, read, or buy.AI is all around us.It’s driving innovation in healthcare, finance, transportation, and countless other fields.”
Maida,who traced the history of World Consumer Rights Day to 1962 with the introduction of four basic consumer rights by President John F. Kennedy in his speech to the US Congress, identified such rights as “the rights include the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to be heard.”
The NCC boss ,who emphasized that protecting citizens’ privacy is extremely important when using AI, urged organizations to handle personal data responsibly by following strict privacy regulations and respect privacy to build trust in AI systems.
Maida said:”Responsible AI means using it in an ethical way, throughout its development, deployment, and usage. This includes considering issues like bias, privacy, transparency, and accountability.
“According to reports, responsible AI aims to empower consumers, build trust, and minimize negative effects.
“Responsible AI requires mechanisms for holding systems accountable and explaining their decisions. “Consumers should understand how AI systems work and have a way to address issues or biases.”
According NCC boss, the Commission realises the imperative of of upholding the rights of consumer, which had evolved over the years with additional new consumer rights and had kept to that obligation.
These rights he said , include “the right to privacy, the right to quality of service, the right to timely redress, right to action on disputed charges, right to fair complaint process and right to accurate billing.
Maida added that the Commission, in pursuit to join the global community to advance digital services and enhance quality communications infrastructure recognized AI as an important mode of communication for the benefit of the citizenry.
In this regard,the NCC boss disclosed that the Commission conducted a globally acclaimed most transparent auction for 5G services in Nigeria, firstly on December 13th 2021 and secondly on December 5th 2022.
“The first auction saw the emergence of MTN and MAFAB as the successful bidders while Airtel Networks Nigeria emerged as the sole bidder at the second auction’, according to him.
The Deputy. Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Commission, Mr.Clem Omife, in his address of welcome at the occasion, said the Commission recognized the important position the consumers occupy in the telecommunications ecosystem.
He assured that NCC would continue to develop and promote consumer centric initiatives to ensure the protection of the rights of consumers.
“Consumer Education also forms a major tool for promoting consumer rights and therefore the Commission continues to engage with consumers and consumer issues, using its various outreach programmes such the Telecom Consumer Parliament, Telecom Consumer Conversations.
Other he said are :Market Conversation, Village Square Dialogue, Campus Conversation, NYSC Camp Sensitization Town Hall on Radio.
He revealed that NCC had also published the Telecom Consumer Handbook and transcribed into Braille for the Visually impaired.
“Also, the Commission- is in the final process of deploying the Automated Consumer Complaints Management System, which will further expand the complaints channels and improve complaints resolutions even at First level with Service Providers.
“The Consumers will continue to occupy a special position in the Commission’s activities because we recognize that without the Consumers, there will be no telecommunication industry,” he said.
Our correspondent gathered that management and Staff of the Commission,
CEOs and representatives of Telecom Service Providers,
Chairman, Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF) and
Telecoms Advocacy Groups
Esteemed Telecoms Consumers among others attended the occasion.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
