The International Press Institute has frowned at laws with
prescription of capital punishment and other dehumanising penalties
for abuse of the media space otherwise known as fake news or hate
speech.
IPI in a statement jointly signed at the weekend by the Chairman,
Nigerian Chapter, Kabiru Yusuf, Mallam Wada Maida, member IPI
Executive Board and Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin, Secretary,
Nigerian Chapter, said, “As the global network of Editors, Publishers,
Media Executives, Communication Scholars, Senior Journalists/Media
Executives and experts in the communication industry on press freedom,
the International Press Institute (IPI, Nigerian Chapter) firmly
understands the implications of any law with contentious provisions
for free speech, press freedom, media independence, safety of
journalism practitioners and the unhindered operations of media
businesses.
“We wish to make it known that IPI does not in any way support the
peddling of hate speech, fake news and deliberate misinformation
through any social or conventional media platform.
“We are aware that all of the aforementioned are usually the preserve
of quacks and non-professionals who have no regard for the
implications that such acts would have for our polity and for national
peace and security.
“But we are decidedly opposed to laws with prescription of capital
punishment and any other stiff and dehumanising penalties for such
abuse of the media space.”
IPI however appealed to all real stakeholders to go beyond the open
condemnations by seizing the opportunity that would be presented at
the impending public hearing to vigorously push for desired amendments
or changes to any such Bill prior to its likely passage or rejection
by the legislature.
“We also sincerely suggest that members of the National Assembly
should patriotically explore the alternatives of either re-examining
the provisions of the Cyber Crime Act (2015) to accommodate current
realities or advocating the applications, when necessary, of its
provisions to check any negative use of social media.”
