by Danjuma katsina
@katsina city news
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers of Nigeria, GOCOP, has rejected the guidelines and Code of Practice for online news media recently released by the National Innformation Technology Development Agency, NITDA.
NITDA has released s set of guidelines for online media practice in Nigeria, tagged ‘Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries’.
The agency said it issued the guidelines in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The code lists its objectives to include setting out measures to combat harmful online publications and broadcast messages that disinform or misinform members of the public.
However, GOCOP described the code as an attempt by the government to gag the media and suppress press freedom in the country.
A statement signed the body’s President Maureen Chigbo and Secretary, Collins Edomaruse said the latest move was part of the federal government’s desperate attempts to enact anti-free press laws.
The statement urged the federal government to jettison the NITDA Code and rely on existing regulations such as the Cybercrime Act, Laws of Defamation, Libel and Privacy to protect citizens against any perceived unprofessional journalistic conduct.
Katsina city news
@ www.katsinacitynews.com
Jaridar taskar labarai
@ www.jaridartaskarlabarai.com
The links news
@ www.thelinksnews.com
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