Experts Want Review of Cybercrime Act to Check Social Media Abuses

ICT experts in Abuja, have urged the Federal Government to review the 2015 Cybercrime Act to address social media abuses and other forms of emerging cybercrimes.
The experts said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday,

Mr Jide Awe, the founder, Jidaw.com, said that the rise in the use of social media had resulted in some negative effect and cyber bullying, which had far-reaching negative impacts.
“It negatively affects the economy, health and relationships of victims, victims suffer from anxiety, depression, stress, social isolation, and even suicidal thoughts.

“Online abuse creates an atmosphere of fear and distrust, discourages participation in online engagement and engagement with government, stifles participation in public debate and democratic processes, it hinders economic growth.

“Government should implement existing laws like the Cybercrime Act to address social media and other online concerns.

“The aim should be to create a safe and respectful online environment by encouraging responsible behaviour,’’ he said.

According to him, the implementation should include areas as cyber bullying, cyber stalking, hate speech, misinformation, data privacy violations, and harmful online content and practices.

Awe added that the level of the Cybercrime Act 2015 implementation regarding cyber bullying and cyber stalking was limited. He said that the situation was complex with mixed reports due to new and evolving challenges of the social media space

“People are becoming more aware of cyber bullying, hence the need to build capacity of relevant stakeholders in terms of resources and expertise to effectively detect, investigate, and prosecute such cybercrimes.

“The appropriate approach should be one that balances the need for responsible online behaviour with the protection of fundamental rights and the continued promotion of innovation.

“In the digital age, a culture of cyber security awareness is unfortunately lacking.

“It is alarming that a significant portion of the public cannot differentiate between constructive criticism and cyberbullying and many are unaware that cyberbullying and cyberstalking are considered crimes,” he said.

Awe also called for a multi-stakeholder approach to social media governance as well as the creation a safe and transparent online environment.

He, however, said that embarking on social media regulation required acknowledging the existing complexities and concerns.

‘’The potential for misuse and abuse in this space is real, making it crucial to ensure that any imposed regulations respect freedom of expression,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Andrew Abu, the founder, Young Innovators of Nigeria (YIN), said that the rise in social media use had engendered unprecedented connectivity and communication; saying however, that it had its flaws.

Abu stated that regulating the social media space had become paramount, because data protection and privacy had been largely abused online.

“Advocates for regulation argue that it is necessary to curb the spread of misinformation and protect individuals and public from harmful content.

“Opponents express concerns about potential restrictions on free speech and the possibility of misuse of regulatory powers for political purposes.

“Instead of imposing heavy-handed regulations, the government could explore collaborative approaches with social media platforms, civil society, and the public.

“This could involve the development of self-regulatory mechanisms and guidelines that promote responsible online behaviour without infringing on fundamental rights,’’ he said.

According to Abu, a thorough review of the act can strengthen the legal framework, providing law enforcement with the necessary tools to combat evolving cyber threats effectively.
He recommended striking a balance between security and freedom of expression.

“Collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders can lead to the development of responsible and effective measures to address challenges in the digital space, ensuring a safer and more secure online environment for all Nigerians,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the act was designed to provide effective and unified, legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria.