Fake news: Osun Govt sets up action committee on cyber crimes, bullying

Osun State Government has set up a Cyber Crime Action Committee against cyber crimes, cyber bullying and deliberate online false news.

The setting up of the committee, according to a statement by Kolapo Alimi, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, is to give effect to relevant provisions of an existing law.

“The increasing wave of fake news negatively affects both the government and the opposition and it is high time all operators were brought within the compass of the law in the exercise of their rights as guaranteed by the constitution.

“The committee domiciled at the Ministry of Justice has as members journalists and legal practitioners.

“The public is hereby informed that the mandate is to ensure that fake news are nipped in the bid, no matter who the perpetrators are,” he said.

Alimi stressed that the Committee is to apply relevant sections of the Cybercrime Act of 2015 to ensure that all stakeholders operated within the law.

He disclosed that the committee will host its maiden action meeting on Monday.