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A Weapon of the Weak: Fighting Police Brutality through Social Media
Die Waffe der Schwachen: Bekämpfung von Polizeibrutalität mithilfe sozialer Medien
[working paper]
Corporate Editor
German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) - Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien, Institut für Afrika-Studien
Abstract The 20 October 2021 marks the first anniversary of the shooting of unarmed protesters by the Nigerian military. The movement pushing to abolish the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has proved how social media can make the voices of the weak heard. However, recent developments surrounding social med... view more
The 20 October 2021 marks the first anniversary of the shooting of unarmed protesters by the Nigerian military. The movement pushing to abolish the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has proved how social media can make the voices of the weak heard. However, recent developments surrounding social media regulations in the aftermath of the shooting show that the right to freedom of expression is at risk of regression.
The EndSARS protest has proven itself to be a milestone people-led movement. It is the first time Nigerians from different classes, ethnic groups, and religions have united behind a cause. It went beyond making demands for the mere disbanding of the SARS squad to insisting on the release of protesters, justice for victims, prosecution of poor police conduct, evaluation and retraining of officers, and an increase in police salary - all organised via social media.
What came in the aftermath of the movement served as a driver for the renewed calls for bills to regulate social media. The political elite issued a communiqué that called for the strict monitoring and censorship of social media usage.
Recent developments are not unique. A careful analysis of social media regulations shows that the government has remained ambivalent towards freedom of expression - promoting that right while at the same time limiting it.
Nigeria has witnessed some progress since it transitioned from military to civilian rule in 1999. Nevertheless, it risks regression if draconian bills are introduced that curtail freedom of expression and assembly. The Nigerian government must be willing to review and revise its cyber bills to eliminate ambiguity. It must also include all relevant stakeholders, such as youth, women, and human as well as digital rights experts, in its drafting of cyber bills.... view less
Keywords
Africa South of the Sahara; West Africa; Nigeria; society; media; information; national state; political system; constitution; human rights; domestic policy; development; police; violence; human rights violation; Internet; social media; meaning; role; freedom of opinion; freedom of information; protest movement; resistance movement; media policy; censorship; citizen; criminality; prosecution; legislation
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
City
Hamburg
Page/Pages
12 p.
Series
GIGA Focus Afrika, 6
ISSN
1862-3603
Status
Published Version; reviewed