Supreme Court Judge Decries Abuses in Social Media

Views over the roles of social media in the neo-colonial African state’s security differs among the population based on age, position in government, ethnicity, and most importantly whether you are a friend or enemy to those in power.

                Overall, government and security agencies have expressed concerns over the emergence of social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and messaging apps such as Whatsapp. They argue that these cyber spaces are undermining the rule of law and government’s ability to enforce the rule of law. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Cameroon’s Judicial Week, the country’s prominent Supreme Court Justice, DanielMekobeSone on Thursday disparaged what he described as the abuse of social media.

                “Cyber space has become an excellent platform for freedom of expression without law and faith. It has become a court where everybody is judged and condemned without recourse to courts of law. A veritable space for defamation” he said.

                But several social activists will disagree with the government’s views. To these activists the social media and cyber space has helped minority population and marginalized communities to express their voice, to expose government atrocities, and also sexual and other abuses by powerful against the weak, who couldn’t access the law courts because of corruption or bureaucracy.

                According to these activists, people no longer need to travel to Yaounde or Buea to lay their complains against their abusers.

                Moreover, they argue that military and other armed groups are still killing people in Cameroon without recuse to law courts.

                Many of social media users will agree that there are some problems with cyberspace which must be addressed. According to the Economists, these problems include “hate speech, misinformation and other disturbing content”.

                But Landry Nkube told National Times that most of these problems reflect the absence and abuse of justice in the communities. “The law courts are corrupt. Justice is how much you can pay, and a lot of abuse goes without drawing government attention”.

                Landry believes the government should put more effort “clearing the courts of corruption and abuse. They need to build the people’s trust and faith. Justice is not blind. If the people can’t see it, they won’t believe it.”

                However, even countries with powerful and independent judicial systems such as the US, Canada, Germany, have still have to contend with the rise of hate speech, misinformation and racial profiling.