Fake News, Hate Speech and Nigeria's Struggle for Democratic Consolidation

Abstract

In addition to looking at the ongoing election campaigns in Nigeria, past election campaigns both locally and globally (especially since Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom and the 2016 presidential election in the United States) have highlighted how fake news and hate speech can be used to cause political instability in society. Ever since, fake news and hate speech issues and their impacts on democratic processes have gained widespread research attention. Hence, an urge exists to not only further understand the concepts of fake news and hate speech but also to define them based on empirical and critical literature. This chapter intends to clearly provide further understanding about the definition of fake news through a redefinition of the concept based on a critical review of literature. Also, critically discussed in this chapter are the impacts both fake news and hate speech can have on the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. Some policy recommendations are offered.

PROTOCOL: Hate online and in traditional media: A systematic review of the evidence for associations or impacts on individuals, audiences, and communities

“…As mentioned above, hate content broadcast through traditional media such as radio has had an impact on the development and support of violence in Africa (Adelman & Suhrke, 2017;Pate & Ibrahim, 2020;Straus, 2007). Violent radicalization has also been associated with the consumption or exposure to this type of content.…”

“…Although hate content has been mostly associated with the Internet, traditional media have also been implicated in the transmission of hate content, particularly in regions where the Internet has had a lower penetration, as well as in rural sectors. In Africa, for example, hate content broadcast on radio has been linked to violence and destabilization (Pate & Ibrahim, 2020; Somerville, 2011). The most extreme case of this connection has probably been Rwanda, where several researchers have pointed out the influence that hate content broadcast on the radio had on the genocide in the country (Adelman & Suhrke, 2017; Straus, 2007).…”

“…For example, some studies suggest the increased use of Facebook is associated with increased acts of violence against refugees (Müller & Schwarz, 2020). As mentioned above, hate content broadcast through traditional media such as radio has had an impact on the development and support of violence in Africa (Adelman & Suhrke, 2017; Pate & Ibrahim, 2020; Straus, 2007). Violent radicalization has also been associated with the consumption or exposure to this type of content.…”

“…to violence and destabilization (Pate & Ibrahim, 2020;Somerville, 2011). The most extreme case of this connection has probably been Rwanda, where several researchers have pointed out the influence that hate content broadcast on the radio had on the genocide in the country (Adelman & Suhrke, 2017;Straus, 2007).…”

Maqashid Syari’ah as a Filter of Hoax Through Al-Quran Perspective

“…In conveying the news, a person should express the nature of amanah (trustworthy), siddiq (honest), fatanah (smart), and tabligh (delivering) so that the received news can be trusted by others. "Likewise, before being trusted to the newly received news, the news must be examined and clarified in advance with existing data, facts, and reality" (Bukar & Ibrahim, 2019). In Islamic syari'ah, all musty life is organized based on the Al-Quran and the Sunnah so that it creates benefits for adherents, including delivering and receiving the news.…”