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Nigeria, Zimbabwe Move Forward With Controversial Chinese-Inspired Social Media Laws

by Eric Olander

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, said the time has come to regulate social media and online content and that the spread of lies and fake news is “getting completely out of hand.”  In a speech on Friday to the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,  the First Lady said China is the example Nigeria should follow: “If China can control over 1.3 billion people on social media, I see no reason why Nigeria cannot attempt controlling only 180 million people,” she said.

Last month, the Nigerian Senate re-introduced a bill that would regulate speech on social media.

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