Nigerians React To the Social Media Bill

Earlier today, the hashtag trending on twitter was #saynotosocialmediabill#. The bill, ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019’ was introduced on Tuesday, November 5 and according to the sponsor of the legislation, it will curb fake news on the internet.

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However, Nigerians are not ready to have this bill and there have been different reactions and actions taken to end this bill. Below are some of these reactions:

Every Senator that endorses the Social Media or Hate Speech Bill should receive VISA BAN.

Join us as we #OccupyNASS next week. #SayNoToSocialMediaBillً
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) November 23, 2019

God bless you Sir, for being one of the only Legislators to boldly stand up on behalf of Nigeria’s young people. #SayNoToSocialMediaBill https://t.co/5ohjZrbMiU
— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) November 23, 2019

Dear Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are all watching.There’s already legislation dealing with fake news. This bill is redundant and will only further stifle free speech, in a country that seems set up to war with its young people. #SayNoToSocialMediaBill
— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) November 23, 2019

The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Stop the Social Media Bill! You can no longer take our rights from us – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/W71iYvzP12 via @Change #SayNoToSocialMediaBill

— Mazi Ibe (@MaziIbe_) November 23, 2019

I would have loved to retweet this to my TL so that the people trending #SayNoToSocialMediaBill can call or text their senators to vote against the bill, but I don’t want anyone to disturb our good senators, so I WILL NOT retweet this. Thank you. 👀🚶🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/moIJfytVGC
— Frank Donga™ (@frankdonga_) November 23, 2019

Without social media the beating of a salesgirl by senator Abbo in a sex shop would not be known to the world, this is the reason he is against social media in the senate.
Social media continues to be the voice of the voiceless and should not be gagged.#SayNoToSocialMediaBill
— Hamma (@HAHayatu) November 23, 2019

Send this to your representatives. (Words in the thread below). Copy, Paste, Edit and send.

Find your rep’s eMail at https://t.co/VEaMR6CJUp #SayNoToSocialMediaBill
Also sign and share the petition to the United Nations here https://t.co/sWS7Go17Rk pic.twitter.com/Qr4CJFYtgp
— Olóyè (@OluniyiGates) November 23, 2019

This senator got away with assaulting a citizen of this country publicly and is now in support of Social Media Bill. I don’t blame him, I blame the law that didn’t relieve him of his office. #SayNoToSocialMediaBill

— AG BABY (@adekunleGOLD) November 23, 2019