Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, has faced criticism after revealing that he once considered shutting down the internet to prevent the spread of graphic videos from the tragic August 6 helicopter crash.
Speaking on Joy FM, George explained the difficult position he found himself in as videos from the crash site began circulating widely, particularly on WhatsApp. “I was faced as minister of communications with two options. One was to shut down the internet in the country to prevent further spread of the video,” he admitted.
He described being distraught by the incident but emphasized the responsibility he carried toward the state. “When the incident happened, I was distraught, but we still had a responsibility to the state. I got a call with the videos that started circulating. The unfortunate situation is most of them were circulating on WhatsApp, and WhatsApp is a platform that is not controlled by any country. It’s a private business,” he added.
George also disclosed that the Cyber Security Authority contacted Meta, and he personally reached out to people at the company in an effort to control the spread of the videos. However, he noted that a shutdown would have had negative consequences far worse than the initial problem.
Despite these clarifications, George’s comments have sparked debate online, with critics questioning the implications of even considering an internet shutdown in response to such events. Supporters, meanwhile, argue that his statements highlight the difficult balance between protecting public sensitivity and upholding digital freedoms.
