The Federal Government is planning to regulate Netflix, other streaming services because it can be used to “cause chaos” and undermine Nigeria’s democratic processes.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known at a two-day conference, themed, “the implication of Nigeria censorship laws and regulatory framework for Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services and content providers in Nigeria.”

Mohammed who was represented by Comfort Ajiboye, Director, Information and Technology in the ministry said,  popularity and demand of streaming services in Nigeria increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, “hence its regulation.”

He reiterated that social media and streaming services can be used “to cause chaos and undermine democratic processes.”

In his opening address, Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director and CEO of the NFVCB, said the conference was to brainstorm on creating policies to regulate streamers and content providers in Nigeria.

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“With over 50 per cent internet penetration, it has become imperative to convene this conference to bring together stakeholders and legislators in a conversation so as to come up with crystal policies on the regulation of streamers and content providers.

“The goal of regulation is not to stifle creativity but to create sanity and encourage healthy competition for socio-economic gains, ”Thomas said.