The commissioner of police in Kano State, Usaini Gumel, has expressed concern over what he termed an “avalanche” of fake information on social media.

He said that people were being fed unregulated, false, hateful, and defamatory information, which had often led to violence in society.

Mr Gumel spoke on Sunday in a lecture titled: “The perils of social media, consequences of defamation, and spreading of falsehood”.

He presented the lecture in Gumel during the youths of Gumel Emirate Facebook connect initiative 2023.

According to him, misinformation, hate speech, and defamation of character now flow freely on social media platforms because of ignorance and the absence of regulation.

He said that though social media has added value to society, it has also contributed to insecurity, conflicts, and religious bigotry in the country.

Mr Gumel observed that a significant number of youths who interact on social media platforms know little or nothing about the legal framework that guides its upright use and the consequences of its misuse.

“It is a convincing fact that some of the news and views spread so rapidly through the social media platforms that they keep causing turbulence and social disharmony among citizens.

“Although social media have advantages with recognisable multiple merits, the perils, however, need not only to be more highlighted but also be tackled with prudence.

“We are all aware that the ability of social media product consumers is still immature in this century to effectively coordinate the massive information sent to them in text messages, Facebook posts, tweets, etc.

“This is because they keep utilizing them without verifying the authenticity of the contents, which could, in some cases, be harmful to them or society,” he added.

According to him, there are numerous instances where social media has created social turbulence, resulting in social unrest and a sudden rise in online crimes that pose grave threats to society.

He added that there were records of cases of online harassment of eminent citizens and political personalities, thus exemplifying the behaviour and social sickness of society.

“This sort of online pestering comprises threats, religious-based abusive statements, hate speeches, blackmail, and sometimes upload of morphed pictures, etc.

“Those acting this way should always remember that not all victims overlook the damaging effects, and harmful consequences of those actions on their individual and collective fundamental freedoms,” he added.

He said it was distressing that the government has no or limited control to restrain social media sites except through a complete shutdown of the internet or a ban of a particular platform in cases of violation.

“As a result, social media has regularly been employed by adversaries of the state as well as non-state actors who, in most cases, create misinformation, fictitious narratives, hate propaganda, incite fear, false alarm, infuse mutual distrust, etc.

“These started to impact the various facets of human life and the day-to-day functioning of societies, which further destabilised national integration and security of a country,” he said.

Mr Gumel advised social media handlers to be wary of false information and the use of foul language capable of causing social unrest, defamation of character, and a threat to national security.

(NAN)