Nandlall says child protection, not censorship, is govt’s goal with social media regulation

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has rejected claims that the government’s ongoing consultations on social media regulation are aimed at censorship, insisting that the initiative is focused exclusively on protecting children from harmful online content.

Speaking during his Issues in the News programme, Nandlall accused some individuals of misrepresenting the government’s efforts to develop legislation governing children’s access to social media platforms.

The Attorney General emphasised that the government fully recognises the educational and social benefits of digital platforms but believes action is necessary to address growing concerns about children’s exposure to harmful content online.

“There is no intention to censure or interfere with anyone’s freedom of expression,” Nandlall said.

He argued that while social media provides valuable educational opportunities, it also exposes young users to pornography, violence, and other inappropriate material that can negatively affect their development.

The government has launched a nationwide consultation process involving parents, educators, legal professionals and other stakeholders as it explores a legislative framework aimed at protecting minors online.

Nandlall recently led a consultation with members of the legal community that included representatives from the judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Chambers, the Constitutional Reform Commission, the University of Guyana’s Law Department, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Law Reform Commission and the Guyana Bar Association.

According to the Attorney General, participants overwhelmingly supported the principle of introducing safeguards for children using social media and internet platforms.

He argued that Guyana is not acting in isolation, noting that countries across Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America have already enacted or are considering legislation addressing children’s online activity.

Nandlall also disclosed that the government has written to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, seeking to establish a formal institutional relationship as part of efforts to engage major social media platforms on issues affecting Guyanese users.

That move, he said, has been incorrectly portrayed as an attempt to control or censor online speech.

“We should have had a relationship with Facebook a long time ago,” he stated.

The Attorney General stressed that any future regulatory framework would require cooperation from parents, guardians, and educators, noting that the state alone cannot monitor children’s online activity.

He maintained that the consultations are being conducted in good faith and are driven by concerns about child welfare rather than politics.

“This initiative has no ulterior motive, no political content, and is not inspired or driven by any form of desire to control or censor,” Nandlall said.

“It is to accord paramount importance and protection to the welfare of our children.”