FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN NIGERIA’S DIGITAL AGE: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION AND HATE SPEECH

Abstract

This study is an overall dissection of the regulation of freedom of expression and hate speech on digital spaces in Nigeria. It introduces the study by highlighting the rationale for the study by expatiating the background to the study. It outlines the background to the problem, emphasizing the tension between safeguarding free speech and curbing harmful expressions that incite violence or discrimination. It states problems identifying gaps in Nigeria’s legal and institutional responses, including inconsistencies in existing laws and challenges of enforcement in a digital age. The objectives of the study are to critically analyze the legal framework governing freedom of expression and hate speech in Nigeria, assess its compatibility with constitutional and international human rights standards, and evaluate institutional mechanisms for addressing the menace. The study further justifies the study by underscoring its relevance to law reform, democratic consolidation, and the protection of fundamental rights. Methodologically, the work adopts doctrinal analysis of statutes, case law, international instruments, and scholarly writings. The study recognizes a lacuna in the domestic legal framework in Nigeria and how it can be addressed with express recommendations. Overall, it lays the foundation for a comprehensive inquiry into how Nigeria can strike a balance between protecting free expression and preventing hate speech on digital spaces in a democratic society living in a modern, digital and technology-friendly era.