News
Fake News: Social Media Should Be Regulated – Keyamo, Others Declare
Nigeria’s minister of state for Labour and Employment, Barrister Festus Keyamo, SAN, has highlighted part of the ways in which fake news could be averted.
The minister through his special adviser, Niyi Fatogun, spoke in a media workshop on ‘Balancing Ethics and Patriotism: the obligations of journalists to their country’, organised by the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa.
Keyamo acknowledged that although social media has come to stay in the country, there must be laws put in place to regulate and sanitise the system.
The veteran lawyer said to kill fake news, which according to him, can destroy the fabric of the country, fake social media accounts must first be killed.
The minister also said that laws must be put in place that illegalise fake news.
“Social media has come to stay. Gone are those days when we used to beg editors or be at their mercy to get your views out there,” when an editor decides which story to put there and which story to ignore.
“Today everyone puts their thoughts out uncensored which is a very good thing.
“It is good for mankind. However, we also know that it comes with its own problems.
“We must make sure we don’t kill the good because of the bad. So the best [we can do] is to support the good and mitigate against the bad and ugly.
“Before it was very possible to hold people accountable for fake news. Media houses had professionals who were very responsible…today we have the social media, and the gate keepers have become more or less sidelined, so what do we do to mitigate against the bad and ugly?
Addressing journalists, convener of the workshop, John Mayak, who is the Country Director, Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, said that the best and easiest way to tackle fake news is self regulation.
He said that there should be both government and self regulation to fight fake news, calling for laws to be established to regulate how people use social media, just like it is in China and other developed countries.
-
Business6 days ago
I met N13bn IGR per month but we are now seeing N27bn – Fubara
-
Politics7 days ago
SERAP To Govs, Wike: Account For Trillions Of FAAC Allocations
-
News5 days ago
Court orders Becky Buodeigha alias Becky Minaj, CEO of BM Secrets to pay Baraza N7m
-
Politics5 days ago
EFCC: I am Ready to Appear in Court But Afraid of Arrest – Yahaya Bello
-
News7 days ago
Okuama killings: Bayelsa monarch alleges torture, arrest of returning residents
-
Politics6 days ago
EFCC Goes After Malami, Sirika, Farouq-umar Over Multi Fraud
-
News18 hours ago
Yahaya Bello: American International School Of Abuja Has Transferred $760,910.84 To EFCC Out Of $845,852
-
Business5 days ago
Again, Dangote reduces diesel, aviation fuel prices to N940, N980