- President, Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Godfrey Bivbere (right), Mass Communication lecturer at Lagos State Polytechnic, Dr. Layinka Adagun, Ag Assistant Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, SP Abubakar Smart, and another officer at cybercrime workshop organised by MARAN in Lagos
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Journalists have been alerted to the many legal and security pitfalls in the careless use of words or graphics that constitute cyber threat or cyberbullying in conveying online media reports, including the casual forwarding of received content on the social media space.
Speaking at a cybercrime workshop organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos, the Ag Assistant Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, SP Abubakar Smart, urged journalists to refrain from avoidable prosecution and damages inherent in personally authored or forwarded materials with elements of cyberbullying.
He listed elements of cybercrime to include any criminal activity carried such as bullying, stalking, fraud, identity theft and phishing, which is carried out in cyberspace, including social media platforms.
Smart, who advised media professionals to imbibe responsible online behaviour, warned that the reuse of unverified malicious content or careless choice of words in online interactions, have grave consequences ranging from hefty fines and asset forfeiture to up to 10-year jail term.
Stating that “the pen can be sharper than the knife,” he urged journalists to “ensure that whatever they push out online would not put them in trouble,” adding that journalists should acquaint themselves with the full spectrum of cyber threats, which is beyond cybercrime and internet fraud.
According to him, “it has become a global threat due to the way we use digital technology, the nature of our work, and the way we interact online. Journalists need to be well informed about the Cybercrime Act of 2015, as amended, so as not to fall victim.”
Earlier, a Mass Communication lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Dr. Yinka Adagun, warned journalists against the haste to publish exclusive stories, stating that such hurried and unverified report could have cyberbullying content.
“The internet has become a global tool for everything, including a channel for freedom of expression,” he noted. “Sadly, the freedom that the internet depicts is now being attacked and users intimidated. We all need to safeguard our access and activities on the electronic highway.”
To check against such pitfalls, he urged individual awareness, organisational measures and technological aid, use of strong passwords (against interference), careful use of links and attachments, updating of software and implementation of cyber security policies, among others.
Meanwhile, MARAN President, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, has called on all relevant government institutions to carry out more awareness programmes on the Cybercrime Act across the mass media beats.
