Nigeria needs social media regulation to tackle fake news,

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former Minister of Information and Culture under the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Lai Mohammed, has called for the regulation of social media to tackle anti-state groups, anarchists, and other harmful entities in the country.

The Ex-minister emphasised the need for stricter oversight of social media platforms to prevent them from being exploited by those seeking to undermine the government and incite violence

He noted that his position is not to stifle freedom of expression or censor dissenting voices, but a step towards ensuring that social media platforms are held accountable.

Mohammed, who is also the Managing Partner of Bruit Cosaud, a policy advisory firm, made the call at the iRepresent International Documentary Festival, which forms part of activities to mark the 90th birthday anniversary of Prof. Wole Soyinka, in Lagos on Friday.

The theme of the event is “Disinformation and Misinformation: The Media in the Age of Discontent.”.

“Let me state here that I support the calls for the regulation of social media. However, regulation of social media should not be misconstrued as an attempt to stifle freedom of expression or censor dissenting voices.

Rather, it should be viewed as a necessary step to ensure that these platforms operate in a manner that is responsible, ethical, and conducive to the well-being of society,” Mohammed said.

He further urged the current administration to take action against social media companies that allow misleading information to circulate unchecked.

According to the former minister, the unchecked spread of fake news and hate speech on social media has become a serious threat to national security, with anti-state groups using these platforms to spread propaganda and incite public unrest.

He, however, warned that this trend could have dire consequences for the stability of the country and called for decisive action to address the issue.

Mohammed noted that social media remains a major space for the proliferation of fake news, adding that the consequences of disinformation and misinformation are far-reaching in the sense of undermining democratic processes, among others.

“Social media remains the platform of choice for the purveyors of fake news, anti-state groups, anarchists, secessionists, terrorists and bandits. It’s either on Facebook, Instagram, X, etc. With a smartphone and data, people can broadcast whatever they want with ease.

“Similarly, through technology and inventions, the challenge has even become exponential through the use of artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques to create highly realistic fake or manipulated videos, audio recordings, or images.

“These creations often involve superimposing existing images or videos onto other contents, making it appear as though individuals are saying or doing things they never did. This is the era of deep fakes!

“There is no doubt that the proliferation of digital media platforms has transformed the landscape of information dissemination the world over.

“While these platforms have democratised access to information, they have also provided fertile ground for the spread of falsehoods and manipulation.

“The rapid circulation of misinformation, fueled by algorithms designed to maximize engagement, has led to a crisis of trust in traditional media institutions.

“The consequences of disinformation and misinformation are far-reaching. They undermine democratic processes, sow discord within communities, and pose significant threats to public health and safety. False narratives surrounding elections can trigger legitimacy problems for the winner.

“There were conspiracy theories fueling vaccine hesitancy, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, among other consequences of fake news. The impact of misinformation can be devastating, exacerbating existing fault lines and hindering collective action.”

While explaining why the Buhari-led administration suspended the services of Twitter, now X, Mohammed said the move was to checkmate the nefarious activities of some groups bent on promoting anarchy.

According to him, “We were compelled to suspend the services of Twitter, now X when it became evident that Twitter had yielded its platform to proscribed groups who were bent on promoting anarchy and destabilising the country.”

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