Sani: Regulating Social Media Risks Silencing Accountability, But Unchecked Use Breeds Harm

Former senator representing Kaduna Central and human rights activist Shehu Sani has weighed in on the global debate over social media regulation, warning of the delicate balance democratic societies must strike between protecting freedom of expression and curbing online harm.

In a statement posted on Sunday on X, Sani acknowledged the dilemma facing both developing and advanced democracies, noting that while regulating social media could shield governments and institutions from public accountability, leaving it unchecked may allow it to become a tool for hate, defamation, cultural erosion, and violence.

“If you regulate social media, you trample on freedom of speech and shield governments, states, and institutions from being held accountable,” Sani said. “If you don’t regulate social media, it becomes a tool for hate, harassment, defamation, corrupting culture, and incitement to violence.”

He pointed out that even Western democracies struggle with this issue, highlighting that “the world’s ‘freest’ country wants to assess your social media accounts before issuing you a visa.”

Comparing social media to a weapon, Sani remarked: “Social media is like a gun, it can be used to prevent murder and to commit murder.”

He urged democratic nations to “find and uphold that balance between rights and decency,” stressing the need for thoughtful and rights-respecting regulation that neither silences citizens nor enables abuse.