A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation of Algorithmic Accountability in Nigerian Digital News Curation

Algorithmic accountability, the mechanisms through which automated content curation systems can be held responsible for their social consequences, is an emerging theoretical and governance challenge in Nigeria, where digital news consumption is shaped by algorithmic systems operated by global technology companies with minimal local accountability obligations. This study conducted a theoretical and empirical investigation of algorithmic accountability in Nigerian digital news curation. The theoretical dimension developed an original Nigerian Algorithmic News Accountability Framework synthesising platform studies, media accountability theory, and Nigerian regulatory context analysis. Three accountability mechanisms were theorised: transparency accountability (platform disclosure obligations regarding curation criteria), access accountability (mechanisms for affected parties to contest algorithmic decisions), and outcome accountability (monitoring and correction of discriminatory or socially harmful curation outcomes). The empirical dimension tested the framework through two studies: an audit study deploying 40 Nigerian-located research accounts with systematically varied engagement profiles to measure curation discrimination across ethnic and political content categories, and a regulatory document analysis examining the adequacy of Nigerian regulatory instruments for platform algorithmic accountability. Audit results demonstrated statistically significant curation differences based on account ethnic identity proxies (p < 0.001), with politically moderate accounts receiving less politically diverse content than expected from declared platform diversity commitments. Regulatory analysis revealed that Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency framework contains no mechanism for algorithmic content curation oversight. The study provides an original accountability framework with specific Nigerian policy applications. Keywords: algorithmic accountability, digital news curation, platform regulation, Nigerian media, algorithmic auditing