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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to protect children from violence and exploitation online.
The bill, which is sponsored by Olumide Osoba, has as its short title ” Child Online Access Protection Bill”. And seeks to put in place a framework to prevent and address harms arising online abuse.
Osoba, in his lead debate, stated that the task of raising children in the internet age has become more daunting, especially with the rise in threats of violence. Consequently, he explained that the proposed legislation is designed to “shield the Nigerian child from the perils of online violence and exploitation”.
According to him, “in the face of technological advancements, our children encounter unprecedented risks online. Raising our children in this era of the internet has become an enduring task. The threat of violence has
escalated, affecting our children physically, sexually, and psychologically.
” While we acknowledge the
significance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act signed into law on June 12, 2023, it is crucial to recognize the specific vulnerabilities children face in the digital space. The internet has become a breeding ground for threats to our children, and the absence of mandates to sensitize and enlighten parents, government, and the public on the alarming Increase in child abuse due to online activities calls for a robust legislative intervention.”
Osoba added that “we cannot
afford to underestimate the impact of the internet on our children. Every child has the right to be protected from abuse, exploitation, and violence stemming from cyberbullying, cyber-extortion, identity theft, drug trafficking, phishing, and other forms of online abuse.
Our child protection systems must be extensive and robust, ensuring the well-being and safety of our
children.”
The lawmaker further stated that “this bill proposes a framework to prevent and address harms caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content. It emphasizes the importance of reporting incidents promptly and
highlights the steps for addressing various types of online abuse.
“In essence, this bill mandates Internet Service Providers to block access to materials depicting violent
conduct, regulate illegal/restricted content irrespective of the host, and remove intimate images and
videos shared online that negatively impact children.”
