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General News of Friday, 21 February 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

No going back on social media regulation - Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed Lai Mohammed

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stated that there is no going back on the Federal Government plan to regulate social media.

The minister stated that two major platforms - Facebook and Google - have been contacted in regards to the plan.

This comes weeks after Lai Mohammed denied knowledge of a bill in Nigeria to regulate social media when he had an interview with an international media platform.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on February 20, 2020, Lai Mohammed stated that the aim of social media regulation is to prevent damages to the country.

“We are pushing ahead with our plan to sanitize social media, working with stakeholders. By March 2, 2020, we will inaugurate a stakeholders committee that will deliberate and recommend the way forward.

“We are also planning a major international conference that will bring together the tech companies, media practitioners, policymakers and others as part of efforts to tackle this growing canker-worm

“Last week, I met with representatives of Google and Facebook for the same purpose. The situation is dire, and no nation that values its peace, security and stability will allow an irresponsible use of social media.

“There has been a spike in the dissemination of fake news and the use of disinformation in recent times. This is not accidental: Fake news, disinformation and hate speech have become the weapons of choice to create tension in the polity and destabilise the country.

“And those behind them, the naysayers, are not about to relent. Those behind this campaign of fake news and disinformation have also deployed new tactics, top of which is the recycling old news items and videos.

“For some people, the 2019 elections are not over. They are stuck in the pre-election mode. And they must continue to use these weapons to put Nigeria on edge.”

Lai Mohammed also revealed plans of floating a new ‘communication regulations’ which will record all calls, monitor WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.

“Another good example is the video of the over 400 young men suspected to be Boko Haram members who were intercepted in Abia State in 2014.

“About two weeks ago, the video came back into circulation, creating panic in the polity. The intention of those behind it is simple: to create tension and panic in the country."