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Senate reintroduces controversial social media bill

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Senate worried, proposes summit on security in Nigeria

The Senate on Tuesday reintroduced the controversial bill designed to regulate social media activities in the country, despite the outcries that followed its first introduction during the life span of the eighth Senate.

Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, the sponsor of the bill titled: “Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019,” said the legislation would curb fake news on the internet.

The bill was read for the first time, among 11 other bills, for the first time on Tuesday.

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It will be recalled that a bill with a similar intention was introduced by the eighth Senate but was jettisoned after outcry by Nigerians.

Musa, while speaking with journalists in his office, said the bill is for “patriotic Nigerians” who want to see the country live in peace.

According to him, with the advent of social media, there is reason for a country to see how this new media is tolerated.

“I as an individual may decide to remain in my room or office and then draft something I know very well is false because I want to hit at someone. I will decide to draft and throw it on social media.

“Waiting few seconds, it’s on there. Before you know it, it has been shared all over. I have a passion for IT and I know what it takes to disseminate your information, it is like the speed of light,” he explained.

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