GOCOP Kicks, Daar Communications Threatens Litigation Over Twitter Ban
Daar Communications Plc, operators of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Raypower FM and Faaji Radio has vowed to challenge in court the order to deactivate its Twitter account by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Daar Communication’s threat came as others including GOCOP tackled the federal government for the adverse effect of the ban of Twitter on digital publishing.
The federal government on Friday banned the micro-blogging app from operating in the country for deleting tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari. The government went further Saturday when Nigeria’s Attorney General Malami announced the prosecution of violators of the ban.
In a follow up to the government order, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) citing Sections 2 (1), 3.11.2 as well as 5.6.3 of the NBC Act, on Monday, directed broadcast stations to “de-install Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a source (UGC) of information gathering for News and programmes presentation especially phone-in.”
The acting Director-General of the NBC, Armstrong Idachaba, issued the directive in a statement titled: “Suspend Twitter handles” stated that, “Consequent on the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government over the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission directs all Broadcasting Stations in Nigeria to suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately.
“In Compliance to the above directive, Broadcasting Stations are hereby advised to de-install Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a source (UGC) of information gathering for News and programmes Presentation especially phone-in.
Daar Communication in expressing its displeasure at the NBC order disclosed that it would head to court once the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria is over.
The media firm in a statement on Monday said the NBC order interfered with its editorial policy and right to engage the citizens on its choice of platform.
The statement read in part, “Ordinarily, we would challenge the National Broadcasting Commission to quote the relevant sections of the constitution, the NBC Act, or jurisprudence of our laws from which they derive their authority to direct Broadcasters on where to source newsworthy information and interfering in our editorial decision by prohibiting us from sourcing information, citizen opinion and expressions from the Twitter platform.”
Daar Communication, however, informed its audience of its compliance with the directive, asking listeners and viewers to follow them on other platforms.
” We, therefore, regret to inform our teeming viewers and audience that in compliance with the directive by the NBC following the Federal Government suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria, that we are henceforth and with immediate effect suspending the use of Twitter to disseminate information and to gather newsworthy indignation and opinions from the platform.
“We will seek to challenge this directive in court as soon as the courts resume and will be guided by judicial interpretation of this directive going forward. In the interim, you can follow us on Facebook and Whatsapp.”
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers,(GOCOP) on Monday described the Twitter ban as one to have an adverse effect that may kill online businesses and shrink the democratic space.
In a statement signed by its President, Dotun Oladipo, and the General Secretary, Danlami Nmodu, the group raised concerns that the development is a major setback for online publishing and also will hamper the survival of young businesses and entrepreneurs who have a larger population of their market in the social space.
While advising PresidentBuhari to explore alternative means of settling its dispute with Twitter, GOCOP noted that “we believe this suspension will ruin our businesses and shrink the democratic space”
“Even more, this action will leave many social media handlers who work full time doing legitimate businesses jobless. This will compound the already troubling unemployment situation in the country.
“We note that there are also millions of Nigerians who use Twitter to ventilate their democratic right of freedom of expression responsibly.”
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