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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed disapproval of a proposed law that aims to require large international social media firms to set up local offices in Nigeria.

A rights-focused organization called on the National Assembly to reject the proposed law, cautioning that it might be used for censorship and could weaken citizens’ constitutional right to free speech, even though it was introduced as a step to boost Nigeria’s digital economy and enhance corporate responsibility.

The role was outlined in a presentation delivered yesterday by Emmanuel Onwubiko, the national coordinator of HURIWA, to the chairperson of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.

The legislation, introduced by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, has already received its second reading in the Senate and is now under review by the committee for additional legal evaluation.

HURIWA stated that it thoroughly examined the proposed law and determined that requiring international technology firms to set up offices in Nigeria was not essential and could be detrimental.

The group claimed that although the companies earn significant income from Nigeria’s large digital market, they already interact with Nigerians through current frameworks, such as compensating qualified content creators, collaborating with local tech professionals, and taking part in legal cases when necessary.

As per the group, designating local representatives when needed would sufficiently resolve issues related to interaction with regulators and users, without requiring companies to establish physical offices.

It also rejected assertions that required country offices would greatly enhance consumer complaint handling, technology exchange, or job creation.

HURIWA argued that the platforms already possess efficient systems for addressing user grievances and regularly appear in Nigerian courts via their representatives when legal issues occur.

The group, nevertheless, stated that its main worry was the possibility of the suggested law being utilized as a tool to limit free speech.

It claimed that setting up local offices might subject global social media companies to influence from governmental bodies to take down online material that criticizes those in authority.

As per the rights organization, the involvement of social media firms in Nigeria might serve as a channel for government authorities to urge them to drop globally accepted digital rights principles in favor of politically driven content management.

It brought to mind earlier efforts to control social media in Nigeria, which sparked significant worries about potential limitations on free expression, emphasizing that any laws impacting the online world should include explicit protections against misuse.

The group cautioned that the suggested law must never turn into “a covert method for governmental monitoring, unjust content deletion, or political suppression.”