AG debunks ‘hysteria’ over govt’s plans to align social media with UN conventions

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has quelled concerns raised about the government’s intentions to align social media and cyberspace with a United Nations (UN) convention, noting that any efforts will be internationally- accepted and constitutionally – compliant.

Nandlall, in a Facebook post made Wednesday night, highlighted that the government will only enact modern legislation after a convention drafted at the UN- level to regulate cyberspace is concluded.

And Guyana, he said, actively participated in the drafting of the convention.

With the terms of the convention now settled, Nandlall said the government is going ahead with its intended amendments.

“The sole purpose of awaiting the terms of this Convention to be settled was to ensure that the amendments will be in compliance with and meet the international standard set by this Convention. Guyana actively participated in the draft of this Convention,” Nandlall said.

The AG, however, acknowledged the concerns and “hysteria” generated by his announcement the night before. In his Tuesday night ‘Issues in the News’ programme, he said the government will soon seek to amend the cybercrime law this year in hopes of remedying the misuse of social media.

For Nandlall, those culpable of misusing social media are engaging in “fearmongering” since they are aware that they will no longer be able to misuse the online space to “destroy reputations, excite racial hostilities, engender strife, cause public mischief and extort monies.”

The AG, however, affirmed that the government’s proposed amendments will be for the public good.

“In the circumstances, users of social media and citizens generally, are hereby fully assured that they have nothing to fear once they do not use their platforms serially for illicit means.

“… Once the law is implemented it will be applied for the public good, for the benefit of all law-abiding citizens and to bring critically needed regulation to an unregulated arena,” Nandlall said.