We’re committed to controlling ‘fake news’ on social media, FG insists

The federal government on Monday maintained that it would work hand-in-hand with the National Assembly to ensure ‘fake news’ being circulated on social media is controlled within the legal framework.

Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, who stated this while appearing on Channels Television’s morning show: Sunrise Daily, said other countries had taken certain measures to exercise some levels of restraint over the cyberspace but Nigeria was yet to do so.

• #EndSARS: Some celebrities fuelled violence with fake news
• Fake news: Nigeria sitting on time bomb — FG

According to him, the government had the option of shutting down the social media space in Nigeria during the #EndSARS protests but chose not to tread the path, adding that the National Assembly will do justice to the proposed regulation of the social media to guard against the spread of fake news.

Fake News Bothers FG

“The issue of fake news is bothersome for the government and the protests brought home the dangers of fake news.

“The talk around regulation, of course, we have a National Assembly, it will have to go through the normal process. We have a constitution, we have to make sure it does not violate certain provisions of the constitution that has to do with freedom of expression.

“Where you have fake news destroying lives, the government has a responsibility to make sure that there is a level of control. It is not censorship but some level of control,” the minister said.

Concerns about Social Media

Daily Trust had last week reported that there were a lot of concerns from various quarters over the abuse of cyberspace which Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, describing it as a platform aiding activities of terrorists in the country.

Similarly, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had also raised the alarm that social media was fuelling crisis in the country.

Speaking further on the programme, Dare said the internet and social media have tremendous benefits but “as a country, we must start to think of how to curtail fake news.

“There must be some level of responsibility and some level of punishment to those that will create chaos out of mischief in our country.”

He noted the fact that the Nigerian youths used social media to drive the recent # EndSARS protests against police brutality saying while that was commendable, the cyberspace must be regulated.

The minister added, “The fact that how youths used it to mobilise is commendable. But the talk about the regulation of the social media has been around for a while.

“We’ve seen other countries taking practical steps in that direction, this country has not done that.

“Even during the # EndSARS protests, the country had an option (but) the country never went for that final option.

There was no time the cyberspace was shut down, people were still able to connect themselves through the various social media platforms. And that shows a government that is committed to the rights of freedom and association of every citizen of this country.”