There’s a battle going on in Nigeria over a dangerous bill that threatens free expression online. The good news is that people in Nigeria are fighting back, and it recently appeared that the draft law — nicknamed the “Social Media Bill” by concerned citizens — was beaten back. But this week, the Senate revived the bill with little notice. Unless the global community stands in support of those fighting for free expression in Nigeria, we may soon see this vaguely worded, misguided legislation move forward — and the bad ideas that it contains get copied and pasted into legislation in other countries where free expression is under attack.
Specifically, the draft bill — officially called “An act to prohibit frivolous petitions; and other matters connected therewith” — would require any person submitting a petition to the government to have an accompanying affidavit, making it much more difficult, and costly, for people to complain about public services or graft. Further, the text imposes harsh penalties for tweets or text messages that convey false statements about a wide range of actors — from “a group of persons” to an “institution of government.” Nigerians who violate these provisions could be fined up to N2,000,000 ($10,000) or spend up to two years in jail.
In short, the bill criminalizes speaking out against individuals or groups online, including expressing dissent against the government, with vague and disproportionate restrictions that do not strictly adhere to legitimate purposes.
What’s worse, the language in the draft bill is so broad that it’s not clear that internet users would even understand how to comply with the law. It would be difficult to determine whether a post is intended to “set the public against” a vaguely defined group. At the same time as being overbroad, the bill is illogically specific. It targets WhatsApp, the private messaging application, and Twitter, the microblogging platform. That’s a particular threat to journalists in Nigeria who use these platforms to report on issues of public interest, and it could knock out a vital tool for combatting corruption and keeping government accountable.
The threat to free expression is compounded by the threat to innovation in Nigeria. Already the continent’s largest economy, Nigeria has 15 million Facebook users and over 97 million mobile internet subscriptions. Its technology sector is rapidly expanding. This restrictive law would only deter investment and discourage further development of Nigeria’s internet ecosystem.
Fortunately, activists in Nigeria are continuing to speak out, protesting both on and offline. In addition, if the bill passes into law, there may be legal avenues for fighting it. There are strong protections for free expression in Nigeria’s constitution, and Nigeria has also ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right, which guarantees this right. Furthermore, free expression is protected under international law, and the United Nations has specifically stated that the right to free expression applies online.
Last week, Senate President Bukola Saraki reassured activists when he stated that section 4 of the bill would not be passed. (He appeared to be referring to section 3(4), which prescribes the penalties for social media.) Yet the Senate has since suddenly revived the bill and set a Public Hearing — part of the legislative process — for Monday, March 7. Whether or not section 3(4) is struck from the text, the Social Media Bill should not be passed.
Nigerian President Buhari has stated that he would not sign any bill that doesn’t comport with Nigeria’s constitution, and the Social Media Bill clearly does not. Yet the unrelated Cybercrime Act of 2015 is now in force, and through sections 24(a) and 24(b), imposes harsh penalties for speech in the name of security that violate the right to free expression. Clearly, it’s best to stop this bill now, before it gets any closer to becoming law.
It’s not only Nigeria’s leadership, free expression, and innovation that are at stake. In internet law and policy, even when a law is beaten back, it often gets reanimated in legislatures across the globe.
To fight back, the global community that cares about free expression needs to unite behind common principles,and spread the word: when users’ rights are under attack, we have your back. As members of the Nigerian Senate hold the public hearing, they should not be left in doubt regarding the dangers of the Social Media Bill or any other bill that clamps down on expression online. It should be withdrawn immediately. Nigerians have spoken out, and their leaders should listen.
TECHCABAL
Monday, March 7, 2016
Nigerian kills friend over Messi v Ronaldo argument
A man was killed after arguing with a friend over whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo was the best footballer in the world.
Nigerian national Michael Chukwuma, 21, stabbed 34-year-old compatriot Obina Durumchukwu in a Mumbai suburb, Indian police said.
The incident took place following a party on Saturday night.
"They were discussing football players. One is a fan of Messi and the other was for Ronaldo," a police inspector said.
"During the conversation a quarrel has taken place. The deceased threw a glass into the face of the accused person. The glass broke and caused small injuries.
"After that the accused took the broken glass and assaulted the deceased person who died due to heavy bleeding."
Argentina international Messi, 28, is a five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or - the annual award given to the world's best player by the governing body Fifa.
Portugal captain Ronaldo, 31, has won the accolade three times.
BBC
Nigerian national Michael Chukwuma, 21, stabbed 34-year-old compatriot Obina Durumchukwu in a Mumbai suburb, Indian police said.
The incident took place following a party on Saturday night.
"They were discussing football players. One is a fan of Messi and the other was for Ronaldo," a police inspector said.
"During the conversation a quarrel has taken place. The deceased threw a glass into the face of the accused person. The glass broke and caused small injuries.
"After that the accused took the broken glass and assaulted the deceased person who died due to heavy bleeding."
Argentina international Messi, 28, is a five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or - the annual award given to the world's best player by the governing body Fifa.
Portugal captain Ronaldo, 31, has won the accolade three times.
BBC
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Video - President Muhammadu Buharu talks with Al Jazeera
Nine months after he came to power, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari received an official welcome from Qatar's Emir on Buhari's latest trip of many to boost Nigeria's standing abroad.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Video - Gunmen kidnap 3 schoolgirls in Lagos, Nigeria
Authorities in the Nigerian commercial city of Lagos are still searching for three schoolgirls abducted by gunmen at a private missionary school in the outskirt of the city. Unidentified gunmen stormed the Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary school at the Ikorodu area of the city Monday night and made away with three female students.
U.S. wants Nigeria to impose stiffer penalties on wildlife traffickers
The U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Maria Brewer, on Thursday called on the Nigerian government to urgently enact and implement more strident penalties for wildlife traffickers.
Brewer, who made the appeal in Lagos at an event to commemorate this year’s World Wildlife Day, said that such penalties should discourage traffickers from using Nigeria as a transit point.
“The Nigerian government should enact and implement more strident penalties for wildlife trafficking, penalties that will dissuade potential traffickers from using Nigeria as a transit point.
“Nigeria, by virtue of its size, location and market position, can play a critical role in saving the continent’s most precious natural resources.
“We believe that preserving the natural world and its inhabitants is critical to a prosperous and stable Nigeria,’’ she said.
The U.S. official noted that there were currently limited prohibitive regulations against poaching, trading and sale of wildlife products.
According to her, Nigeria is home to a wealth of wildlife, including a number of endangered species like pangolins, elephants, the Cross River gorilla, grey parrots and more.
Brewer also announced her Mission’s plan to support Nigeria in training, technical exchanges, information and public education to promote conservation, as well as in combating poaching and wildlife trafficking.
She also called on Nigerian communities and individuals to be active in wildlife conservation, and to desist from dealing with illicit traders and poachers.
Lawrence Anukam, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said that Nigeria’s size, borderline, numerous waterways and airports currently posed threats to her wildlife conservation laws.
Anukam also identified the non-harmonisation of States’ Wildlife Laws, as a major challenge to the Federal Government’s wildlife conservation efforts.
He also said that Nigeria had no sufficient research data on the state of her wildlife, for proper monitoring and conservation.
Premium Times
Brewer, who made the appeal in Lagos at an event to commemorate this year’s World Wildlife Day, said that such penalties should discourage traffickers from using Nigeria as a transit point.
“The Nigerian government should enact and implement more strident penalties for wildlife trafficking, penalties that will dissuade potential traffickers from using Nigeria as a transit point.
“Nigeria, by virtue of its size, location and market position, can play a critical role in saving the continent’s most precious natural resources.
“We believe that preserving the natural world and its inhabitants is critical to a prosperous and stable Nigeria,’’ she said.
The U.S. official noted that there were currently limited prohibitive regulations against poaching, trading and sale of wildlife products.
According to her, Nigeria is home to a wealth of wildlife, including a number of endangered species like pangolins, elephants, the Cross River gorilla, grey parrots and more.
Brewer also announced her Mission’s plan to support Nigeria in training, technical exchanges, information and public education to promote conservation, as well as in combating poaching and wildlife trafficking.
She also called on Nigerian communities and individuals to be active in wildlife conservation, and to desist from dealing with illicit traders and poachers.
Lawrence Anukam, Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said that Nigeria’s size, borderline, numerous waterways and airports currently posed threats to her wildlife conservation laws.
Anukam also identified the non-harmonisation of States’ Wildlife Laws, as a major challenge to the Federal Government’s wildlife conservation efforts.
He also said that Nigeria had no sufficient research data on the state of her wildlife, for proper monitoring and conservation.
Premium Times
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