CYBERBULLYING AND BIGOTRY AS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS: THE NEED FOR STRONGER DIGITAL RIGHTS PROTECTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The internet has brought a lot of benefits to mankind, providing the foundation for numerous platforms that enable human interaction and communication. The social media platforms, enabled by the internet, amplify voices that would otherwise go unheard, allowing activists, commentators, and even ordinary citizens to express their views without any inhibition. Sadly, these beautiful tools are sometimes weaponised, providing the environment for cyberbullying and amplification of bigotry, allowing the political class to push divisive narratives that eventually assist their personal interests, and exacerbating the tensions previously confined to the offline world. Nations like Nigeria, that has always lived in religious and ethnic tensions, have seen a rise in cyberbullying and bigotry. This article decries the human rights violations that are infringed upon while people engage in cyberbullying and bigotry. The article points out gaps and challenges in the existing legal framework, argues for more robust protection of these inalienable human rights, and advocates greater efficiency in creating a cyberspace that protects users and the entire nation from the ills of cyberbullying and bigotry. This article calls for efficient legislative intervention, stronger institutional capacity and private sector regulation that will provide better digital rights protection for users.