The Federal Government and Google are collaborating to curb the
excesses of subversive YouTube channels which are used to spread hate
and disinformation against the country.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who
stated this when a team from Google visited him in Abuja on Thursday,
expressed delight that both the Federal Government and Google shared
the same concern on the responsible use of Social Media.
“We want Google to look into how to tackle the use of private and
unlisted YouTube channels and YouTube livestreams by proscribed groups
and terrorist organizations. Channels and emails containing names of
proscribed groups and their affiliates should not be allowed on Google
platforms,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed, who noted that Google is a platform of choice for
IPOB, a proscribed terrorist group, implored the tech giant to deny
IPOB the use of its platform for its acts of violence and
destabilization.
He said Nigerians are among the most vibrant social media users in the
world, with over 100 million Internet users in the country, and that
internet platforms such as Google, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and
WhatsApp enable Nigerians to interact, share ideas, earn a living and
participate in social and political affairs.
The Minister however observed that those platforms are also used by
unscrupulous persons or groups for subversive and nefarious
activities.
Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Nigerian Government recently proposed
a “Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/
Internet Intermediaries” in an attempt to provide a framework for
collaboratively protecting Nigerian users of Internet platforms.
“This code couldn’t have come at a better time, as the country
prepares for general elections next year. We are committed to working
with platforms like yours as well as the civil society, lawyers, media
practitioners and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a responsible
use of the Internet and to protect our people from the harmful effects
of social media,” he said.
In his remarks, Google Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa,
Government Affairs and Public Policy, Mr. Charles Murito, said the
platform has introduced a programme called “Trusted Flaggers” for
citizens trained to track and engage with online contents in order to
flag contents of serious concern.
“As I mentioned earlier, we share the same sentiments, we share the
same goals and objectives and we do not want our platform to be used
for ill purposes,” he said.
On his part, Google Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager,
Mr. Adewolu Adene, said “Equiano”, a subsea cable which recently
berthed in Nigeria from Portugal, is aimed at enhancing connectivity
and access to the internet as well as to drive down the cost of data,
in order to create jobs and facilitate the transfer of knowledge.
He said through the Google News Initiative Challenge, 30 media
platforms, with 5 from Nigeria, including the Dubawa fact-checking
platform, would be awarded a $3.2 million grant in recognition of
their innovative work in information dissemination.
Mr. Adene also pledged the readiness of Google to work with the
Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to digitize the
recently-repatriated artifacts in order to preserve and market them to
a global audience through Google Arts and Culture.
Segun Adeyemi
Special Assistant to the President (Media)
Office of the Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
4 Aug. 2022