Nigerians have taken to social media to start a campaign against the widely opposed people-hostile social media bill which has passed through second reading at the Senate.
The social media bill also known as the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill passed through second reading on Wednesday, November 20 with the support of almost all the senators despite strong opposition from Nigerians who believe that the bill, when passed into law, will be used to stifle freedom of speech.
According to Senator Musa, “the bill is not an attempt to stifle free speech or dissenting views; it is rather an opportunity to address a growing threat which, if left unchecked, can cause serious damage in our polity and disrupt peaceful coexistence.”
Speaking in support of the bill, Senators Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) and Elisha Abbo (PDP, Adamawa North) described the introduction of the bill as timely.
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who was the only one who spoke against the bill, argued that there is legislation in the country namely the Cyber Crimes Act which addresses internet falsehood. However, he was cut short by a point of order raised by Senator Ibn Na’Allah who quoted the provision of Section 39(1)(3) of the 1999 as amended to justify the introduction of the bill by the Senate.
On Twitter, the campaign against the bill has been launched and trending under the hashtag: #SayNoToSocialMediaBill
Nigerian celebrities, media influencers, Human Rights bodies, and others who condemned the move said it’s an attempt to muzzle free speech.
A civil group promoting good governance and public accountability in Nigeria, Enough is Enough (EiE) wrote on twitter using the handle @EiENigeria “When the government get to play judge & jury over what is fake & what is true, their power is sweeping & the effect chilling. Nigerians #SayNoToSocialMediaBill!”
Read some other tweets below.
