The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media has made a case for a register of online media houses to assist in identifying owners.
Tolu Ogunlesi, who made his position known on his verified Twitter handle on Monday, argued that anonymity of ownership is fuelling fake news and unethical behavior.
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“One of the things I think is necessary in Nigeria is a beneficial ownership register of online media houses. Amidst the proliferation, it’s hard to know who owns/runs/benefits from what – and this unusual anonymity helps fuel the climate of fake news and unethical behavior.
“There’s an existing level of transparency/public knowledge regarding the ownership/management of most print and broadcast media. Name most newspapers or TV or radio and we know or can easily find out who’s behind it. With online, however, it’s a giant darkroom,” he said.
