Ned Nwoko renews call for social media regulation after false assassination claim

Senator Ned Nwoko has condemned the spread of false information on social media, citing a recent incident where a man falsely accused him of plotting to kill his estranged wife, Regina Daniels.

The senator, on X, used the opportunity to highlight the dangers of Nigeria’s largely unregulated social media space.

Nwoko stated that making serious, unfounded claims for clicks and views has become a common trend, causing real damage to individuals.

He emphasised that social media companies should be held responsible for allowing defamatory content on their platforms.

The senator reiterated his support for a social media bill pending in the National Assembly, which seeks to require social media companies to register in Nigeria and open offices.

“The accompanying video trended a couple of days ago. It is a testament to the fact that the Nigerian social media space has become one of the most unregulated in the world. Laying very serious allegations have become a common trait to attract millions of views without recourse to the damaging effects on the people involved.

“Knowing that there could be evasion of consequences because they can easily prey on the emotions of Nigerians encourages this deviant behaviour. This case and many others have now clearly justified the urgent need for the social media bill in the national assembly.

“You can’t lie to make money and turn around to apologize after criminally defaming and hurting people. It is time for social media companies to be mandated to open offices in Nigeria and to take responsibility for what they allow on their platforms.

“If landlords are being threatened with punishments for actions of their tenants who are yahoo boys, what stops social media companies from being held responsible for allowing defamatory content on their platforms?”

Nwoko stressed that local media houses comply with defamation laws, and foreign social media companies should be held to the same standard.

“All our local media houses comply with laws concerning defamation. Why make an exception for foreign companies that don’t pay taxes and ultimately avoid all manner of liabilities because of the absence of regulations?

We must effectively be able to apply regulations, or there is no end to this. It’s Senator Ned today, who knows who is next?” he continued.

He urged Nigerians to support his bill, saying it’s time for social media companies to take responsibility for their platforms.

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“Please support my bill on the regulation of social media companies, which simply seeks to get them to register in Nigeria and open their offices here”.

According to him, this would lead to employment opportunities, technology transfer, payment of taxes, and easier litigation.

“This will mean the following: employment for many Nigerians, technology transfer, payment of taxes, litigations will be easier and cheaper instead of suing them in foreign countries, they will also help in tracking bandits and other criminal activities and lastly our records will be domiciled here and not controlled by foreign countries who can use them to destabilize our dear country”, he concluded.