A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) says the demand for the passage of the social media bill is insensitive, retrogressive and anti-democracy.

This was contained in a statement, titled, ‘CSOs decry growing calls for the passage of the social media bill’, which was issued by 15 CSOs.

The CSOs include the Centre for Liberty, Africa Caribbean Heritage Alliance, TACT, Haly Hope Foundation, Raising New Voices Initiative, and Girl Child Empowerment.

The calls for the passage of the social media bill followed reports of the spread of misinformation online as young Nigerians protested against police brutality with the #EndSARS hashtag.

‘We have watched with dismay the growing demand from different individuals and government affiliates following the crucial role the social media has played in the recent EndSARS protest, that the social media bill should be quickly passed by the national assembly’, the group of CSOs said in the statement.

‘The overwhelming demand for police reform in Nigeria today is a product of government’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians for a very long time.

‘In the same way, any attempt to pass the social media bill will only further agitate the polity and widen the distrust of Nigerians towards the government’.

The civil society group argued that recent developments in Nigeria proves that social media is deepening the country’s democracy.

Source: Centre for Liberty Nigeria

Photo source: Temidayo Johnson