The “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019” was passed for its second reading at the Senate on Wednesday. This has become a subject of terror to some Nigerians. Mr Sani Musa, whom has been noted as the bill’s sponsor said that the intention of this bill is to curb internet falsehood. And not to drain the freedom of expression from Nigerians.
According to Premium times, the bill contains 36 clauses which prescribe up to N300,000 naira fine for an individual. And a fine of N10 million naira for organisations when found guilty for disseminating wrong information online.
Well, having known that, let’s take it to the streets of Twitter and see what Nigerians have been saying:
- A popular Twitter user Aproko Doctor says ” This is a way to control the citizens…”
This is nothing but a desperate attempt to control the citizens
The goal is usually to keep information from spreading and to some extent, prevent outsiders from assessing information in the country
Our voices won't matter if this goes through#SayNoToSocialMediaBill
— Dr. Chinonso Egemba (@aproko_doctor) November 22, 2019
2. @WarepamorSammy focuses on a section of the law that speaks on freedom of expression and communication. Do you agree with him?
Based on our constitution section 39 that guarantees freedom of speech and information,i oppose and condemn the social Media Bill that is aimed at infringing on our rights to freedom of expression and communications. #SayNoToSocialMediaBill#SayNoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/iKirw2tNbE
— WarepamorSammy ⚡️ (@Warepamorsammy) November 22, 2019
3. We have other Acts that can regulate false information – Ugwunna Ejike
We already got a CyberCrimes Act
We already got a Nigerian Communications Act that monitors Internet intermediaries
These two already give the government power to regulate & act on hateful speech & false information.
Why do we need a Social Media Act?#SayNoToSocialMediaBill
— UG (@UgwunnaEjikem) November 22, 2019
4. A replication of Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act 2019:
The Bill is a replication of Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods & Manipulation Act 2019 signed into law in June.
Meanwhile, Singapore is a very bad example to copy from, it ranks 151 out of 180 in @RSF_en 'World Press Freedom Index'.#SayNoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/bpz36IhDTA— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) November 22, 2019
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