On Wednesday, the Bill for an Act to regulate the spread of fake news on the internet has passed its seconding reading, despite criticism by media practitioners and other stakeholders that it may violate the rights of expression of Nigerians.

The bill titled: Provisions for the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019 (SB. 132) was sponsored by Senator Muhammed Sani Musa.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir and Senator Elisha Abbo have argued for the speedy passage of the bill.

Abbo alluded to his own experience as a victim of propaganda circulated on social media, saying “even conventional media that are regulated are suffering from falsehood.”

“Today we know that America has risen up against fake news as it has had very terrible consequences in America. Fake news is dangerous, therefore Mr President, we must rise to the challenge,” Abbo said.

However, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani expressed disapproval over the passage of the bill, saying, “I not only oppose it in totality, but I also condemn this Bill”.

Nnamani said, “based on our constitution that guarantees freedom of speech, there is a cybercrime act that deals with this”.

The Senate President Ahmad Lawan referred the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report within four weeks.

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 General Elections had criticized the proposed bill as a means to shrink the democratic space to satisfy personal and group interests.

Source:
https://zenithnaija.com/sen-chimaroke-nnamani-once-a-victim-of-hate-speech-condemns-hate-speech-bill/

Cc: lalasticlala dominique Mynd44

Our Ebeano

If you stay at Enugu, you'll hear volumes upon volumes of praises heaped upon his person, especially for his humble nature. So his rejection of the bill, despite his beign a victim is not a suprise to me, but a glimer of hope that atleast their are still humans in the senate.

Remember there was a time FFK felt invisible!

There was a time Yara Dua's wife was the most powerful black woman on earth!

There was a time Abacha thought after him it is God!

? Where are aĺl these people today?

There will be a time that such laws will make it impossible for you too to talk or express yourself.

The Music senator and the Dancing senator failed to push for proper electoral reforms and system they are victims and casualties of the system today