…Proffers adoption of democratic approach in curbing fake news
By Amadin Idahosa
After a careful perusal of the Social Media Bill, the Centre For Liberty, CFL, in it’s professional capacity has advised the Federal Government to withdraw the bill as it is unfit for a democratic country like Nigeria.
CFL further recommended that the Nigerian Government should rather adopt a more democratic approach in its bid to tackle fake news, and avoid resorting to anti-democratic approaches to enact tyrannical and draconian laws that will further shrink its civic spaces
This message was communicated yesterday in Abuja, at CFL’s press conference on the unveiling of its document: “The Democratic Solution to Hate Speech and Fake News in Nigeria.”
Reading the document, Maryam Ahmed, Assistant Project Officer, CFL, said that during the organisational assessment of the social media bill, “While it agrees that Fake News is indeed a problem in the country, it equally believes that there are democratic solutions that Nigeria can create or adopt from other democratic nations around the world, to tackle the problem without violating citizens’ rights to Freedom of Expression as guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Part of the aims for issuing the document, according to CFL, is to see how other democratic nations around the world are dealing with the problem of Fake News and how Nigeria can emulate.
The group further urged the government to look at countries like Turkey, Sweden, India and the United Kingdom, which are addressing hate speeches and fake news without delimiting freedom of expression.
“In order to stem the wide spread of false statements, false declarations, and harmful contents, the UK government set up a rapid response unit within the cabinet office to work with social media firms to remove fake news and harmful contents from their platforms.
“The government also re-launched a campaign called “don’t Feed the Beast”, urging the public to think carefully about what they share online, so as to stop false rumors from spreading and taking hold.” CFLs document partly reads.
According to CFL, the aforementioned approaches ensures that the fundamental Human Rights of citizens are safeguarded, and guaranteed.
Some specific suggestions in curbing this menace by CFL is for government to carryout public awareness campaigns through Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and National Orientation Agency, NOA.
Also, CFL recommended having a Rebuttal Unit to counter false publications and working alongside social media platforms to help in flagging down misleading information.
The group further said that government could engage or partner civil society groups in carrying out advocacies/campaigns against fake news among several other suggestions.
Also present at the conference were Adebayo Raphael, Co-Convener, CFL, Deji Adeyanju, Co-Convener, CFL, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, Co-Convener, CFL, who responded to questions from the various media Organizations.
