to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye is considering
the urgent appeal against the repressive social media bill known as 'A
Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters
Connected therewith', rights group Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP) has confirmed.
In a press statement released and signed by the Executive Director of
SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation said that, "SERAP can
confirm that the Office of the Special Rapporteur is now considering
our petition. We have received communication from Marcelo Daher at the
Office of the Special Rapporteur to this effect. The Special
Rapporteur has also requested a copy of the bill, which SERAP has
promptly sent to Marcelo Daher."
"SERAP appreciates the prompt attention to this matter by the Office
of the Special Rapporteur. We urge the UN to pursue this matter to a
satisfactory conclusion by ensuring that the Nigerian Senate is not
allowed to strangulate media freedom and social media in the country,"
the group said.
According to the group, "The only option for the Senate now is to
withdraw this obnoxious bill without further delay and end this
international embarrassment. SERAP will be prepared to withdraw the
petition at the UN if the Senate can follow this honourable path."
It would be recalled that SERAP last week sent an urgent appeal to Mr.
David Kaye requesting him to use his good offices and position to
urgently request the National Assembly of Nigeria, specifically the
Senate, to withdraw the said bill which if passed into law would
undermine the internationally recognized right to freedom of
expression and press freedom on the internet in the country.
Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was
copied in the urgent appeal.
In the appeal, the organisation expressed serious concerns "that the
National Assembly of Nigeria will any moment from now pass a bill to
jail for two years and fine anybody or group of persons who send any
alleged false text message or post false message on the social media
against another person."
"SERAP is concerned that rather than increasing universal and
inclusive access to the Internet for all Nigerians, the National
Assembly of Nigeria is working to undermine access of citizens to the
Internet. Yet, freedom of expression entails the ability to both speak
and receive information, including through the social media and other
generated content services such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and
chat applications," the organisation said.
The organisation also said that, by initiating the bill, the National
Assembly is impermissibly restricting the ability of the citizens to
use these tools to communicate, connect, and seek independent sources
of information."
"We contend that the bill will restrain access to internet and social
media, curtail the freedom of the press, and online content in
illegitimate, disproportionate, or otherwise unlawful and abusive
ways. The real targets of the bill are social media and human rights
defenders that might be critical of government policies or report on
corruption involving high ranking government officials," the
organisation also said.
"International law provides that any restriction to rights online must
be provided in law, pursuant to a legitimate aim, and limited to only
what is necessary and proportionate. SERAP believes that the bill
falls far short of international requirements of legitimacy, necessity
and proportionality," the organisation added.
According to the organisation, "The bill will also have chilling
effect on freedom of expression in the country, as it will create an
atmosphere of fear among bloggers and online activists who may not
post critical commentary on Facebook or other social media platforms
for fear of being sent to jail. The Internet cannot enable citizens
and others to participate in governance or critique government policy
..
-Vanguard
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