Vincent Obia

Vincent is an academic and Commonwealth Scholar whose research explores the policy attempt to regulate social media in Nigeria. He is also interested in emerging debates on privacy and data concerns in the developing economies of east Africa as well as algorithmic regulation, and the governance of artificial intelligence. He is the Lead Communication Officer for the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association in the UK and is also a Tutor for the educational charity, The Brilliant Club.

His PhD research concerns the regulation of social media in Nigeria, situating it within the context of new media governance in east Africa, including new media policy in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Egypt. His research seeks to contribute to knowledge on the nuances at play when states rise to control the new media space with implications for the twin concepts of freedom of expression and securitisation.

This has become crucial considering the ease and scale with which harmful information is spread on social media and the increasing move by African states, including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to regulate what happens in online and social media spaces.

The research will contribute to regulatory governance studies, particularly emerging debates surrounding the regulation of and by technologies. Beyond this, it seeks to provide new knowledge on the pattern of new media regulation in east Africa where recent developments have little to do with the regulation of and by technologies, but more with the regulation of what people do online.