SERAP asks NASS to withdraw the bill mandating social media platforms to establish physical offices

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the C to withdraw a bill seeking to compel social media platforms and bloggers operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices with verifiable addresses in the country.

The organisation made the call in a letter dated 18 July and addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The letter was signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP argued that the proposed legislation could lead to the exclusion or shutdown of social media platforms in Nigeria and expose millions of Nigerians to violations of their constitutional and internationally guaranteed human rights.

“The Bill would create sweeping powers capable of shutting down or excluding social media platforms from the Nigerian market and exposing ‘millions of Nigerians to serious violations of their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights,” the letter reads.