SERAP Vows To Sue FG If Social Media Is Regulated
A non-governmental organisation, Socio – Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to sue the Nigerian government if it goes ahead to sign into law, the social media regulation before the National Assembly.
The bill, titled ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation’ on social media had passed for second reading at the Nigerian Senate on November 20. It was sponsored by Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa.
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The bill had since its introduction, been receiving backlash from groups, organisations and individuals across the country and beyond, as the government had also vowed to go ahead with it.
In a tweet on its handle @SERAPNigeria, the NGO said the government has a duty to protect and ensure freedom of expression, adding that “We say NO to ‘social media regulation’.”
According to SERAP, the authorities should rather focus on ensuring company transparency and remediation.
The tweet reads: “Dear @GarShehu
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We say NO to ‘social media regulation’.
@NigeriaGov has a duty to protect & ensure freedom of expression.
The authorities should rather focus on ensuring company transparency & remediation.
We’ll see the government in court if free speech online is restricted.”
