FG Plans To Begin Regulation Of Netflix, Other Streaming Services

Mohammed mentioned that the increased demand for streaming services in Nigeria grew amid the pandemic

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the federal government has hinted at plans to introduce censorship laws and regulatory framework for Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services and content providers in Nigeria.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a two-day conference organised by the NFVCB in Lagos, disclosed that streaming services could be used as a medium to “cause chaos” and undermine the country’s democratic processes hence the need for regulation.

Represented by Comfort Ajiboye, Director, Information and Technology in the ministry, Mohammed mentioned that the increased demand for streaming services in Nigeria grew amid the pandemic.

In his opening remarks, the NFVCB Executive Director Adedayo Thomas said that the conference was in a bid to bring together stakeholders in a conversation with the goal of creating policies and regulations for streaming service in the country.

“With over 50 per cent internet penetration, it has become imperative to convene this conference to bring together stakeholders and legislators in a conversation so as to come up with crystal policies on the regulation of streamers and content providers,” Thomas said.

While reiterating the board’s promise to not stifle creativity, Thomas defended the government’s new approach by stating that streaming service providers were unable to self-regulate hence the need for regulatory policies.

“The goal of regulation is not to stifle creativity but to create sanity and encourage healthy competition for socio-economic gains,” he added.

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