Nigeria: Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation and Other Related Matters Bill (SB 132) was introduced to Senate

On 5 November 2019, the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation and Other Related Matters Bill, 2019 (SB 132) was introduced to the Senate and passed its first reading. The Bill aims to address the dissemination of false information and manipulative content online in Nigeria. It includes provisions to regulate the use of bots and inauthentic accounts, with penalties such as fines up to NGN 300'000, imprisonment up to 3 years for individuals, and fines up to NGN 10 million for organisations. Internet intermediaries are required to comply with regulations to correct or stop the transmission of false statements, with non-compliance resulting in fines and access blocking orders. The Bill also introduces "DECLARED online locations" for sites repeatedly transmitting false statements and imposes penalties on their operators. Enforcement is delegated to law enforcement agencies, with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) involved in issuing access-blocking orders. The bill allows for appeals to the High Court under specific conditions.