Knowledge and Compliance of Cyber Regulation among Selected Online Businesses in Akwa Ibom State
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Abstract
The rise of digital technologies has transformed the business landscape, with the Internet becoming a critical platform for e-commerce and digital marketing. Despite regulatory efforts,awareness and compliance with cyber regulations remain limited. This study investigated online business operators' awareness and compliance with cyber regulations, as well as the challenges they encounter. Guided by the Protection Motivation Theory, the study surveyed 384 online business operators within Akwa Ibom’s digital space, employing a simple random sampling technique and using a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. Findings reveal that 49.1% of online businesses are aware of cyber regulations but face difficulties in complying due to complex policies, rapid technological changes, and other factors. To address these challenges, the study recommends that policymakers and cyber security stakeholders provide regular training and educational programmes for online business owners and employees on cyber security regulations and data privacy policies to enhance understanding and improve compliance.
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