Internet freedom worsens in Nigeria —Report

Internet freedom has worsened in Nigeria in the past year due to
unprecedented clampdown on 21 websites and intimidation of
journalists and activists, the latest Freedom on the Net 2018
report has said.

The country, which was ranked 34 out of the 100 countries in
2017 Internet Freedom report, fell to the 37th position this
year.

According to the report, which is a publication of Freedom
House, the action by the Nigerian government and others is eroding
trust in the Internet as well as the foundation of democracy.

The report highlighted some of the major events in the past year
that affected the country’s ranking as increasing extralegal
harassment and intimidation of online journalists and activists as
well as the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill passed in the House of
Representatives in December 2017, and the Senate, in March
2018.

Others are, “An independent online news outlet, Naij.com, was
found blocked in November 2017, along with 20 other websites, many
of which promoted the independence of the Biafra region.

“The Senate proposed a broadly worded hate speech bill in March
2018 that critics worry could be used by the government to silence
online dissent.”

Findings by analysts at Freedom House said though there had been
no evidence that authorities proactively monitor the Internet and
mobile phone communications, many online journalists suspected that
they were being monitored.

“In April 2017, the Federal Government denied monitoring calls
and social media posts. However, the NCC stated during a March 2018
event that the Office of the National Security Adviser has a direct
link to the NCC’s SIM registration database, in order to monitor
and apprehend criminals in the country.”

Analysts at the Freedom House said SIM card registration
requirements instituted in June 2009 threatened users’ rights to
anonymous communication and privacy, especially in the absence of a
data protection law.

It observed that in recent years, a few high-level government
officials in the country had called for a clampdown on the social
media in response to the growing influence of critical commentary
on the Internet, sparking fears of impending online censorship.

“Legislative proposals have added weight to those fears. The
frivolous Petitions Prohibition Bill introduced in 2015 sought to
penalise expression on social media, though it was withdrawn in May
2016. Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Act, which was signed into law in
May 2015, has been used to arrest bloggers for critical content in
the past year.”