The present hue and cry about the regulation of the social media is not necessary. Governments exist to make and implement laws to regulate and control the conduct of the citizens. Any government that fails to do this is heading for anarchy.
If the mainstream media is regulated and function within the ambit of the law why should the social media be let loose to operate outside the law.
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In the absence of law, everybody including criminals will become journalists and use the platform to fight back, blackmail impersonate and libel other people.
There is the need to regulate and control not only the social media but also the entire internet operations. The internet operations should be put under scrutiny and supervision. The present situation where the activities of the internet operators are left in the hands of the foreign owners does not augur well for national security.
In the past it was thought that internet operations were under the supervision of the Nigerian Communication Commission(NCC) but this appears to be erroneous. NCC does not supervise internet operations. They are concerned more with the telephone.
Regulating the social media will protect people’s privacy and offer them the chance to seek redress in court.
Ikeh Frank, Warri.
