The 2019 version of an anti-social media bill has been read for the second time on the floor of the Nigerian Senate, paving the way for its passage into law.
Titled Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019 (SB 132), the bill seeks to censor conversations hosted on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook which have helped amplify the voices of Nigerians on issues that affect them.
Penalties for breaking the social media law include a fine of up to N300,000 or three years imprisonment for individuals and N10 million for corporate organizations.
Nigerians in the social media are voicing their fears and concerns on the potential impact of the obnoxious social media bill. See tweets;
Good morning ! Hope all is well. Well it’s not. If the social media bill passes law enforcement agencies have the right to shut down internet at any time.This means if we are shouting about something our government is doing.They can TURN OFF our internet! #SayNoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/5CDw33djsx
— Bolanle Olukanni (@bolanleolukanni) November 22, 2019
Social media is one of the only places in Nigeria where you can freely speak your mind, but now they want to take that away.
Not surprised senator who slapped that young woman is among those supporting this bill.
He felt the power of social media. #SayNoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/rJ4GeaMa6q
— Pastor Ola ✨ (@Biisi96) November 22, 2019
There are two SEPARATE bills in the Senate.
1. The Hate Speech Bill is the one that proposes hanging you.
2. The Social Media Bill is the one that gives Police the right to block access to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Nairaland, etc.
— Ose Anenih (@ose_anenih) November 22, 2019
The Social Media Bill being discussed at the Senate empowers law enforcement agencies ACCESS BLOCKING ORDERS to @NCCNigeria to order internet service providers to block access to the internet in Nigeria at the SOLE DISCRETION & WITHOUT RECOURSE TO COURTS.#NoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/OP34UECNIq
— Igala High Chief (@I_Am_Ilemona) November 21, 2019
Lemme do a thread.
Read Section 3(1)(b)(iv) of the Social Media Bill. You can go to jail for making statements that are likely to influence the outcome of an election to any office.
In simple english, you can go to jail for CAMPAIGNING for a candidate of your choice. pic.twitter.com/fOZa1x6J4D
— Igala High Chief (@I_Am_Ilemona) November 22, 2019
Oh this is bad. This is ambiguous and dangerous#SocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/rfr9LXEYfB
— Yung Ògògó (@akintonmide) November 22, 2019
As long as the social media bill is to stop people posting falsehood, I dont have a problem with that.
As long as we post what is true, we are good. Make dem dey waste energy on that n not increase minimum wage and make policies that will benefit the masses too.#SocialMediaBill— RUGGEDMAN (@RuggedyBaba) November 21, 2019
Electoral Reforms bill is still chilling in the cooler whilst the Social Media Bill is closer to daylight than we think.
To enjoy the gains of democracy, electoral processes must be fine tuned to ensure that our votes counts.
Why is this Social media bill more important ?
— One.acre says Free Dadiyata (@NekkaSmith) November 22, 2019
Under the proposed #SocialMediaBill, with jail terms of up to 3 years, the government are given broad powers to determine what is fake news & punish those who create & spread them.#SayNoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/55XA3tueuI
— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) November 22, 2019
Incase you don’t understand the legal jargons. Government wants to off our internet if we tweet “This Buhari sef…” They want to send people to jail for “false information” that’s not explicitly defined. That is, they decide what is false. Biko,#SayNoToSocialMediaBill
— Baba Folarin (@That_IjebuBadoo) November 22, 2019
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Social media changed my life LITERALLY… it’s the only place I feel FREE… The only place I can say it as it is… Only place you can be anything you want to be … #SayNoToSocialMediaBill #NOTOSOCIALMEDIABILL
— DR CRAZE (@crazeclown) November 22, 2019
Access Blocking Order on the social media bill will hand NCC access to block any online user.
You will never criticise government,else you will be shut down and tagged misinformation &fake news!
This is a total shutdown!#SayNoToSocialMediaBill pic.twitter.com/AGYR1ewzGs— Anambra 1st son???? (@UchePOkoye) November 22, 2019
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