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Reps support bill to protect children from online violence

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1 year ago

Members of the House of Representatives have expressed overwhelming support for a bill seeking to protect children from online violence.

The private member legislation, sponsored by Hon. Olumide Osoba scaled through Second Reading during Thursday plenary.

The proposed law seeks among others to secure the digital future of Nigerian youths and ensure a safer online environment.

Leading the debate on the bill, Osoba expressed concern over the capacity of unstrained internet to damage the health of the Nigerian child.

He said: “I stand before you today not just as a legislator but as a parent deeply concerned about the safety of our children in the digital age. In the face of technological advancements, our children encounter unprecedented risks online.

“The Child Online Access Protection Bill (2023), which I sponsor, is a pivotal initiative to shield the Nigerian child from the perils of online violence and exploitation.

“Raising our children in this era of the internet has become an enduring task. The threat of violence has escalated, affecting our children physically, sexually, and psychologically.

“While we acknowledge the significance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act signed into law on June 12, 2023, it is crucial to recognize the specific vulnerabilities children face in the digital space.

“The internet has become a breeding ground for threats to our children, and the absence of mandates to sensitize and enlighten parents, government, and the public on the alarming increase in child abuse due to online activities calls for a robust legislative intervention. We cannot afford to underestimate the impact of the internet on our children.

“Every child has the right to be protected from abuse, exploitation, and violence stemming from cyberbullying, cyber-extortion, identity theft, drug trafficking, phishing, and other forms of online abuse. Our child protection systems must be extensive and robust, ensuring the well-being and safety of our children.”

Highlighting the importance of synergy to build support for the bill, Hon. Osoba noted that the bill necessitates a collaborative effort from stakeholders, including legislators, clergymen, parents, the Police Force, Legal Aid, births and death registry, Judiciary, Media, Social Welfare Offices, and internet service providers.

“Together, we must develop a comprehensive framework through legislation, policy, and institutional context to shield our children from online malaise.

“This bill proposes a framework to prevent and address harms caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content. It emphasizes the importance of reporting incidents promptly and highlights the steps for addressing various types of online abuse. Additionally, it outlines fines, imprisonment, and other penalties to discourage online aggression and violence.

“This bill mandates internet service providers to block access to materials depicting violent conduct, regulate illegal/restricted content irrespective of the host, and remove intimate images and videos shared online that negatively impact children.”

He maintained that: “As representatives of the people, as parents and as guardians of the future, we bear a collective responsibility to protect our children/citizens. The Child Online Access Protection Bill is a pivotal step towards ensuring a safer digital future for Nigeria’s youth.”

Following the adoption of the bill for second reading, Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu referred the bill to the Committee on Judiciary for further legislative action.

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