Niger plans new rules for social media use
Niger’s government says it wants to introduce new rules to control how people use social media.
The country’s Minister of Communication, Sidi Mohamed Raliou, announced this on national television, saying social networks are being misused for profit and harmful activities.
He explained that platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and others are no longer just for private conversations.
According to him, when people create large groups for business, politics, or activism, these spaces should be regulated like any other public association.
He compared it to forming an official group or organisation, saying that once a chat includes dozens or even hundreds of people, it is no longer just a private space.
The minister warned that social media has become a tool for making money in ways that may not always be legal, local reports say.
He also said that some people use these platforms to spread messages that could threaten the government.
Similar concerns have been raised in other African countries, and Niger is now looking at how to apply new rules to prevent abuse.
Raliou said the government is working with other countries that have already started controlling social media and promised that clear plans will be shared soon and any new rules will be designed to stop harm.
He however maintained that people will still be allowed to express their views. He insisted that the goal is not to take away freedom of speech but to protect the public from false information and online dangers.
