GEORGETOWN, Guyana – A United Kingdom law firm is helping the Government develop legislation to regulate social media while protecting freedom of expression and other constitutional rights.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall.Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall said the firm is supporting the country’s legislative review by examining regulatory models from jurisdictions around the world and developing a draft framework suited to Guyana’s circumstances.
“We have a number of sources of documents that we are examining together to ensure that we have a modern, comprehensive, and transparent framework that is in keeping with the modern realities of social media,” Nandlall told reporters on Friday.
The review is also taking into account recent legal developments in the United States, including litigation involving Meta in several states.
Nandlall said the Government has examined court rulings and the proceedings that led to them to better understand the legal issues surrounding social media regulation.
At the regional level, Guyana is also considering work commissioned by CARICOM Heads of Government on developing a legislative and regulatory framework for social media.
The Government has received a first draft from the CARICOM initiative, which is being reviewed alongside international models and legal precedents.
Nandlall stressed that the Government’s objective is not simply to impose controls on social media, but to establish safeguards that address emerging concerns without undermining fundamental freedoms.
“You don’t want any measure that will in any form or fashion infringe the constitutional right of expression and other liberties guaranteed to the citizens of Guyana,” he said.
He said the central challenge is to strike an appropriate balance between addressing harmful practices targeted by the proposed legislation and preserving citizens’ rights and liberties.
The ongoing review is expected to inform a framework that is comprehensive and transparent and responsive to the changing digital environment while remaining consistent with Guyana’s constitutional protections.
