— Govt moves to regulate children’s social media use, seeks formal ties with Meta

–Nandlall says, debunks claims of ulterior motives, censorship

THE Government of Guyana is advancing plans for new legislation to manage children’s use of social media and the internet, insisting the move is aimed solely at safeguarding minors and not at censoring political content or curbing free speech.

On his weekly programme Issues in the News, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, said the administration’s move to engage Meta/Facebook to establish a formal institutional relationship is a part of efforts to regulate how children engage with online platforms.

“There is pornography, there is violence, there are violent materials and there are materials there that a child should be shielded from. If you don’t appreciate that then I don’t think that you belong to civilized society, if you don’t see the dangers of banning unregulated web and unregulated social media access, if you don’t see the evil and harm that that can have on our children, then I am not speaking to you and this has nothing to do with politics,” the Attorney General said.

‘NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE, NO CENSORSHIP AGENDA’

Nandlall stressed that the emerging law will be narrowly focused on shielding children from harmful content, such as pornography and extreme violence, while preserving access to educational material and legitimate online services.

“It is devoid of any ulterior motive, and there is no intention to censure or to interfere with anyone’s freedom of expression. I doubt that there is a rational mind out there who does not appreciate the need to offer some type or to ensure some type of management or regulation,” he said.

He added that children’s learning opportunities will not be curtailed.

“It is devoid of any disadvantage, because our children will continue to have access, but it will now be managed.”

Describing children as the country’s “most precious asset”, the Attorney General framed the initiative as a child-protection measure rather than a political project.

“This initiative upon which we are consulting has no ulterior motive, and it’s not inspired or driven by any form of desire to control or censor. It is to accord paramount importance and protection to the welfare of our children,” he stressed.

BROAD-BASED CONSULTATIONS

Nandlall said multiple ministries have begun nationwide consultations to inform the drafting of the legislation, engaging parents, teachers, guardians and professionals who work with children.

“The consultation has to be widespread because it requires the input, the cooperation, and the invaluable support of the parents, the teachers, the guardians, and those who are in authority in relation to children,” he noted, adding:

“This is not the type of law where the state can come into your home and trying to regulate you, the parents need to play a role in ensuring that the law is complied with, and that is why we are doing this type of engagement and education at the same time.”

He reported that he recently led a major consultation with the legal fraternity, attended by representatives of the judiciary, the director of public prosecutions’ office, the constitutional reform commission, the university of Guyana law department, the ombudsman, the law reform commission, the Guyana bar association and public and private sector lawyers.

PART OF A GLOBAL SHIFT

Positioning Guyana’s efforts within a wider international trend, Nandlall pointed out that the United Nations has produced model legislation in this area and that 177 countries have already signed on to related frameworks.

He said regions such as Europe and Australia, “half of Asia”, Brazil and CARICOM states are all moving to update their laws governing children’s online activities.

The Attorney General criticised sections of the opposition and “certain newscasts” for what he said were attempts to misrepresent the initiative as a plan to silence critics or block Facebook.

“Facebook is a global platform. You can’t stop Facebook. Nobody is trying to stop Facebook,” he stated.

He also rejected claims that government is uniquely “uncomfortable” with Facebook’s content, clarifying that his comments referred to society more broadly.

Earlier this month the government launched a national consultation aimed at examining the impact of social media on children and developing a framework to better protect young users in the country’s rapidly expanding digital environment.

The first consultation coordinated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance on behalf of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations, schools, parent groups, technology stakeholders and child protection advocates.

The initiative seeks to gather recommendations that will guide future policies, legislation and public education efforts focused on online safety and digital wellbeing.