Attorney General Anil Nandlall has been emphatic that the Government’s proposal to regulate children’s use of social media is “devoid of any ulterior motive“ and carries “no intention to censure or to interfere with anyone’s freedom of expression.” He argues that the initiative is solely about protecting children from pornography, violent material and other harmful online content.

Few would dispute that protecting children online is a legitimate responsibility of any government.

What is open to question, however, is whether the Government has demonstrated that Guyana actually faces a social media crisis requiring legislative intervention. On that point, the Attorney General’s argument is remarkably thin.