Reps Move To Shield Children From Online Violence, Exploitation

The House of Representatives on Thursday took steps to shield Nigerian children from the dangers of online violence and exploitation.

The House passed the second reading of a bill titled “Child Online Access Protection Act, 2023,” aiming to address online violence issues against Nigerian children.

This bill, sponsored by Hon. Olumide Osoba from Ogun State, proposes a framework to prevent and address the harms caused by serious online abuse and illegal or restricted online content. It stressed the importance of promptly reporting incidents and outlines steps for addressing various types of online abuse. Additionally, it proposes fines, imprisonment, and other penalties to discourage online aggression and violence.

The proposed legislation mandates Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to materials depicting violent conduct, regulate illegal/restricted content regardless of the host, and remove intimate images and videos shared online that negatively impact children.

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Hon. Osoba highlighted the escalating threat of online violence in the internet age, impacting children physically, sexually, and psychologically. He acknowledged the significance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act signed into law in June 2023 but emphasized the need for specific legal protection for children’s vulnerabilities in the digital space.

He stated, “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. We cannot afford to underestimate the impact of the internet on our children.”

Hon. Osoba further asserted, “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.”

He stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders, including legislators, religious leaders, parents, the police force, legal aid organizations, birth and death registry, the judiciary, media, social welfare offices, and ISPs. He argued that a comprehensive framework is crucial to shield children from online harm.

He stated, “This debate calls for collective action. As Representatives of the people, as parents and as guardians of the future, we bear a collective responsibility to protect our children/citizens. The Child Online Access Protection Bill is a pivotal step towards ensuring a safer digital future for Nigeria’s youth. I urge you, my esteemed colleagues, to support and pass this bill to complement existing legislation, providing a comprehensive shield against online violence targeting our children.”