In a world where digital boundaries increasingly shape the flow of information, Nigeria has emerged as one of the top countries with “internet freedom”. According to a recent report by Proxyrack, Nigeria has emerged as the least censored country globally, with an overall score of 0.15 out of 10.
As per the report, approximately 55.4% of Nigerians have internet access, with no restriction whatsoever on its use or mode of usage. According to it, Nigeria does not impose any restrictions on using VPNs and/or Torrents or even restrict pornographic content on the internet. As a result, Nigeria was ranked as the least censored country globally among the top ten.
Surprisingly, only Nigeria was represented from Africa in the top ten list of countries with the least censorship. No other African country made it to the list. The remaining countries in the top ten were South American nations such as Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, and Slovakia.
Read also: Nigeria’s active internet connections hit 159.5 million, but what is 5G’s status in the country?
Other findings
According to the report, the top 3 countries that use the Internet the most are the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with all at 100.0%. All 3 countries also have restrictions on VPNs. Saudi Arabia is one of the top 3 most restricted countries. VPNs are also restricted which is why only 27.1% have adopted the use of these private networks.
A noticeable trend in the report shows that Arab nations were the most censored countries globally. Eight (8) out of the top ten most censored countries in the world are Arab nations, which just Singapore and Australia being the different cats.
The top ten list is completed by Oman, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Belarus and Turkey.
What is censorship?
Censorship refers to the regulation and suppression of speech and writing perceived to be detrimental to the public good. It includes the review of media content that can be deemed pornographic, politically offensive, or a security threat. It also includes official prohibition or restriction of any expression believed to threaten the political, social, or moral order.
While some censorship is good, others are bad, but then is something everybody relies on at the end to moderate what is deemed unfit for the public. Recently, the Free Speech Debate has coalesced around inherently political issues, like elections or the pandemic response, but you also find people trying to protect or censor speech in areas that feel more personal.
So, while censorship is often associated with limiting freedom of speech and expression and can be used to silence critics of those in power, it is not always inherently negative.
It has some positive aspects as well. It prevents disharmony in society by preventing of disclosure of objectionable content that can lead to communal discord, preserves the security of the state, maintains morality in the society, prohibits the spread of false beliefs or rumors, curbs access to harmful activities by preventing public display and others.
What this means for Nigeria’s digital and social space
While the report meticulously sheds light on Nigeria’s remarkable achievements in the realm of internet freedom, the revelation might be a damning signal of a worrying trajectory for its social system and cyber security.
For one, Nigeria’s determination to uphold the right to access information fosters a society that values the exchange of ideas. The absence of restrictions on contentious topics such as pornography is a clear signal of the nation’s belief in allowing individuals to make informed choices in a responsible manner.
Also, VPNs, often used to bypass geographic restrictions and safeguard online activities, have gained popularity as tools for preserving online freedom. Nigeria’s substantial VPN adoption rate indicates that its citizens are taking proactive steps to ensure their digital rights and access to information.
However, the country’s uncensored approach to online access and unrestricted use of virtual private networks raises pressing concerns about the erosion of social norms and the nation’s exposure to a menacing realm of cybercrime.
Amidst growing global efforts to curtail the dissemination of harmful and inappropriate content, Nigeria’s relaxed approach seems to discard any notion of responsible information sharing. By failing to implement necessary controls, Nigeria risks normalizing explicit content consumption and contributing to the degradation of societal values.
However, a significant drawback of having no censorship in the digital realm is the propagation of false information and disinformation. This can lead to the fracturing of societal bonds and the creation of echo chambers that promote distorted realities, causing discord among citizens.
In 2019, however, the Nigeria Senate reintroduced a bill that seeks to penalise persons found guilty of hate speech. It prescribes the death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading a falsehood that leads to the death of another person. And also seeks the establishment of a National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech to help investigate and prosecute offenders.
Read also: Nigerians react on social media as Super Falcons crash out of 2023 FIFA WWC
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