The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have said that a new legislation is required to curtail fake news syndrome in the country, Igbere TV reports.

Speaking at a two-day conference on “Combating Misinformation and Disinformation in Nigeria,” DSS Spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, expressed concern over the growing circulation of fake news through the social media in the country.

Afunanaya raised the concern at an event organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Abuja.

“Why don’t’ we begin to look at the issue of legislation?”, he queried.

“In Japan, for instance, and some other countries, there is a common agreement by convention, even by legislation, their media do not report terrorism because, terrorist feed on publicity. Once you cut the oxygen of publicity, they become disinterested in their actions,” the DSS Spokesman added.

“Why the average reporter or journalist takes interest in announcing the number of soldiers killed in a combat and they would not find it reasonable to announce how terrorist and Boko Haram members have been attacked, because he is afraid Boko Haram people would come and attack him…”.

Igbere TV reports that the DSS Spokesman cited previous false reports on the deaths of Shiites leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, as one of the ways fakes news affects operations of the Service.

Speaking further, Afunanya noted that absolute law and absolute privilege don’t exist anywhere except for absolute responsibility.

“There are rights to demonstrations and protests, yes, but there are no absolute rights. You claim the right to freedom of movements but if there is a lawful curfew, that right of movement is restricted. Even rights to life, we do not have the right to take our lives not to talk of others. Understanding all of these will help us to be responsible citizens,” the DSS spokesman said.

On his part, INEC National Commissioner, Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye, lamented how fake news has impacted negatively on the Commission’s conduct of elections.

“I join the idea of the past speakers who called for legislation to regulate fake news,” he stated.

http://igberetvnews.com/944106/inec-dss-want-new-law-to-curb-fake-news/

Lalasticlala, Mynd44, OAM4J

Spot on.

Not just about privilege, freedom of speech does not include blatantly & mischievously lying to the public as practised by the likes of FFK and omokriminal.

This govt is damn to soft for my liking as long as those two knucklehead bastards still walk free and continue misleading the general public.

The earlier the appropriate authority start making them account for their actions, the better.

I know the lost jews feeding fat on lies will on this account start grunting aloud & endlessly in the direction of dss, but that shouldn't stop the govt from ensuring full implementation of this decision.

Nice one

Please DSS come to nairaland immediately, that boy with users name Wickedfacts always post fake news up and down everyday in nairaland .

The main culprits will still escape justice