By Muhsin Ibrahim
Germany is unquestionably a leading liberal democracy. Its citizens and anyone living here have a right to do so many things the way they want. For instance, my biggest culture shock was seeing men kissing before I later learned that one in ten people in Cologne is gay/lesbian. However, there’s a limit to what one can say on social media, thanks to the offline violence misinformation and disinformation cause in parts of the world.
Fake News, Threat to Nigeria’s Peaceful Coexistence-CDD
The German Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG) regulates any internet platform with more than 2 million users. The law mandates the platforms to delete any post believed to be insulting, racist or inciting once it’s flagged by a user. Failure to do that attracts a heavy fine. However, the poster can sue the platform if he or she believes the post is unjustly removed.
Believe it or not, the End SARS-linked violence has been abetted by FAKE news. The bogus news, nevertheless, does not have wings to fly by itself. People, particularly some so-called influencers, do that. I know it’s hard to have a similar law in Nigeria for many reasons, something like that ought to be in place to avoid the recurrence of this unfortunate, preventable circumstance.
This morning I saw a Tweet by Burnaboy, with 4.3M followers, alleging that Fulani herdsmen were massacring people in Port Harcourt! The other day, I saw Omojuwa, Davido, others peddling similar story. The word “Massacre” has been brazenly abused. I’m deeply disappointed. If they know there’s a law to censor their posts, they would not be that reckless.
We need peace. It means everything to us, to Nigeria as a country. For that, I restricted my yesterday post about attacks on Hausa people in Aba. True as it is, it may inspire violence. I am sorry for that.
Muhsin Ibrahim
23.10.2020
