SERAP rejects bill seeking to amend Data Protection Act of 2023 to regulate bloggers

The National Assembly has been urged to reject a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023 to regulate bloggers operating within Nigeria.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) made the demand in a letter addressed to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The organisation urged Akpabio and Abbas to ensure that any amendments to the Nigeria Data Protection Act promotes and protects the rights of bloggers and other journalists rather than infringe upon Nigerians‘ fundamental human rights.

SERAP alleged that the bill, which has already passed its first and second readings in the Senate aims to regulate bloggers by requiring them to register in local offices and join recognised national associations for bloggers.

It maintained that lawmakers should not act as arbiters of truth in the public and political domain and that regulating bloggers and forcing them to associate would significantly affect freedom of expression and lead to censorship.