The Online Safety Commission is calling on the public to exercise patience when submitting complaints about online abuse, amid rising concerns over delays and increasing expectations for rapid resolutions. Commission Prosecutor Joshua Singh emphasized that maintaining trust in the organization’s procedures is essential, noting that investigations and the removal of harmful content cannot be completed instantaneously.
Singh highlighted that each online platform adheres to its own set of community guidelines, which must be taken into account during the evaluation of complaints. He elaborated on the complexity of the process, stating, “Because they have their own guidelines they have to look at. They will look at the post, assess it. Many a times, they remove the post. But then sometimes they say, no, we will not remove the post because it does not violate the community guidelines.”
Additionally, challenges such as incomplete complaint forms and language barriers contribute to delays. Singh pointed out that his abuse team sometimes struggles with posts written in various iTaukei dialects, such as Kadavu and Baun dialects, which adds time to the process of translating these into English for proper assessment.
Last year, the Commission recorded more than 1,600 complaints, yet only one case has reached the courts. This statistic serves as a reminder that while the internet operates at a fast pace, achieving justice necessitates careful and thorough work to ensure that outcomes are legally sound. As the Commission continues its efforts to address online abuse, it remains committed to fostering an environment of safety and respect in digital spaces.
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