*David Hundeyin says the claims in the government’s statement are false as Twitter’s global operating standard runs contrary to claim.
Popular Nigerian journalist, David Hundeyin says the federal government’s assertion that Twitter has agreed to concede to it on a number of issues it itemised in its press statement where it announced the lifting of the ban on Twitter is false.
In a tweet thread via his Twitter handle, the journalist says the claim that Twitter has agreed to give a backend access to officials of the government is not true.
A section of the statement issued by the government had stressed that Twitter has agreed to enroll Nigeria in its Partner Support and Law Enforcement Portals, which provides a direct channel for government officials and Twitter staff to manage prohibited content that violates Twitter community rules.
However, he says this is not true:
”That statement “The Partner Support Portal provides a direct channel for government officials and Twitter staff to manage prohibited content” is false.
”ONLY Twitter staff can manage content under the PSP. It didn’t take me 5 minutes to find this out.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/858847/Intimidation_in_Public_Life__Letter_from_Twitter_6_December_2019.pdf
”Furthermore, Twitter’s Law Enforcement Portal does NOT give any government anywhere in the world tye power to directly manage content on Twitter. Again, you can confirm this for yourself here help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-p”
Continuing he says, ”In all cases as you can clearly see, whether under the Partner Support Program or the Law Enforcement Program, governments are required to go through court processes and provide valid court orders before Twitter will then INVESTIGATE (not take down) the said tweets.”
”Even if Nigeria passes laws criminalising free speech, Twitter will NOT action law enforcement reports made using such laws, because as clearly stated here, its platform speech policy is based on the US Bill of Rights and the EU Convention on Human Rights. help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-p
”TLDR: Nigeria’s government is telling lies about its engagement with Twitter. No concession whatsoever has been achieved, except you count vague promises about tax and CAC registration. It has merely been added to a program that already has dozens of governments participating.
”The Nigerian government will have NO control whatsoever over the content Nigerians post on Twitter, and will have NO control whatsoever over Twitter’s definition of free speech, which is based on US and EU law, with input from the UN. Aso Rock is a complete non-factor.” he concludes
A check on Twitter’s ‘Rules and Polices’ page shows this claim is valid and has not changed as at the time of filling this report and a mail sent to Twitter’s support for clarification had not been replied as at the time of going to press.
