The Federal Government says it has no intention of shutting down social media, but it will regulate the platforms.

It said its plan is to regulate social media to be responsible and refrain from being purveyor of “fake news and hate speech”.

“We must regulate the social media in a manner that it does not become a purveyor of fake news and hate speech,” the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Saturday in Lagos when he inspected the headquarters of The Nation newspaper and TV Continental (TVC) that were attacked in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the minister was accompanied on the inspection by heads of parastatal agencies in his ministry.

Speaking at the premises of The Nation, the minister said the Muhammadu Buhari administration has high regards for freedom of the press.

The government’s earlier announcements to regulate social media was met with criticisms.

Mr Mohammed said his recent call for the regulation of the excesses of the social media should not be misconstrued for a total ban.

“We did not at any time say that we will shut down the social media,” he said.

“Social media has come to stay and it will be an antithesis to democracy to shut it down because it is the fastest way of disseminating information.

“However, we must regulate the social media in a manner that it does not become a purveyor of fake news and hate speech.

“We will not fold our arms to allow purveyors of fake news and hate speech to use the social media to destabilise the country,” he said.

He said some of the owners of social media platforms, including Facebook and Whatshap, were making attempts to regulate their use because of the danger of fake news.

The minister said the government foresaw the danger of fake news and hate speech as far back as 2017.

“We saw as far back as 2017 that the next epidemic that will hit Nigeria and the entire world is fake news and misinformation.

“Based on that, we dedicated an entire National Council on Information meeting in Jos to the issue.

“After this, we launched a national campaign on fake news on July 11, 2018, where we stressed that the next war will be fought without a shot being fired but with the use fake news.

“We did not stop there. We went on a tour of all media houses seeking their support against fake news,” he said... (NAN)

Read more:
https://newswatch24tv.com/2020/11/01/government-must-regulate-social-media-lai-mohammed-insists/

The same social media way APC use take gain power. Useless administration. Instead of una to focus on better things to take improve the lives of the Nigerian citizens, una dey reason social media. Ogun go kill all of una one by one. Second wave of protest go soon start & that one go be the last straw wey go break camel back yeye leaders.

Why is this man actually after regulating social media?? So they can easily shut it down whenever they feel they are about to be exposed?

NewsMuncher:
The Federal Government says it has no intention of shutting down social media, but it will regulate the platforms.

It said its plan is to regulate social media to be responsible and refrain from being purveyor of “fake news and hate speech”.

“We must regulate the social media in a manner that it does not become a purveyor of fake news and hate speech,” the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Saturday in Lagos when he inspected the headquarters of The Nation newspaper and TV Continental (TVC) that were attacked in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the minister was accompanied on the inspection by heads of parastatal agencies in his ministry.

Speaking at the premises of The Nation, the minister said the Muhammadu Buhari administration has high regards for freedom of the press.

The government’s earlier announcements to regulate social media was met with criticisms.

Mr Mohammed said his recent call for the regulation of the excesses of the social media should not be misconstrued for a total ban.

“We did not at any time say that we will shut down the social media,” he said.

“Social media has come to stay and it will be an antithesis to democracy to shut it down because it is the fastest way of disseminating information.

“However, we must regulate the social media in a manner that it does not become a purveyor of fake news and hate speech.

“We will not fold our arms to allow purveyors of fake news and hate speech to use the social media to destabilise the country,” he said.

He said some of the owners of social media platforms, including Facebook and Whatshap, were making attempts to regulate their use because of the danger of fake news.

The minister said the government foresaw the danger of fake news and hate speech as far back as 2017.

“We saw as far back as 2017 that the next epidemic that will hit Nigeria and the entire world is fake news and misinformation.

“Based on that, we dedicated an entire National Council on Information meeting in Jos to the issue.

“After this, we launched a national campaign on fake news on July 11, 2018, where we stressed that the next war will be fought without a shot being fired but with the use fake news.

“We did not stop there. We went on a tour of all media houses seeking their support against fake news,” he said... (NAN)

Read more:
https://newswatch24tv.com/2020/11/01/government-must-regulate-social-media-lai-mohammed-insists/

we don hear..let him go ahead...as is apc we remain in power for ever

when they say regulate.. what do they mean sef?[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]

when they say regulate.. what do they mean sef?

Your problem is now to regulate social media... SMH

E no fit happen!

Lie Mohammed must be regulated , he spread more lies and fake news than social media !

By infiltrating it with govt paid etouts who only spread Lai's lies and fake news.

I see , so that you can continue dishing out lies

They just want everyone to go back to NTA mode where you can only have access to what they want u to watch....

We go SHoCk una...
Pls we need the address and phone number of this man...

Seems is only south west that have dogged leaders
That’s why they are strong in opposition
While south east governors are good in slavery
Arse licking and begging of Presidency as if power is given