Reject social media regulation bill, SERAP tells Akpabio, Abbas

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, “to reject the recently reintroduced social media regulation bill.”

SERAP noted that the passage of the bill “would unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy,” and urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop its efforts to compel technological firms like Google and YouTube to restrict such “fundamental human rights.”

This was contained in a statement by the group’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.

According to SERAP, the bill would “criminalise the legitimate and lawful exercise of human rights.”

The statement read in parts, “The National Broadcasting Commission last week reportedly stated that, “one of Nigeria’s major problems now is social media,” and described social media as “a monster.”

“In the letter dated 14 October 2023, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “social media is neither Nigeria’s problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms.

“Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“The proposed bill raises serious concerns about the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, and would lead to digital siege.”

SERAP warned that it “shall” take the National Assembly and the FG to court upon the passage of the social media bill.

It advised the FG to maximise opportunities that abound on social media and look into the nation’s growing “social and economic inequalities.”

The statement read in parts, “Rather than rushing to pass the social media regulation bill, the National Assembly should encourage the Federal Government to maximise opportunities around social media access and address the growing social and economic inequalities in the country.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken upon the receipt and/or publication of this letter. SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions against the National Assembly and the Federal Government if the social media regulation bill is ever passed into law.

“We urge you to request the administration of President Bola Tinubu to publish the details of any ongoing discussion and engagement with Google, YouTube, TikTok and other social media companies.

“The reintroduction of the social media regulation bill would lead to deterioration of the human rights situation in the country and carry major economic costs for all sectors, as well as exacerbate social and economic inequalities.