Last year, Fiji reported a total of 3,638 cases of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), according to Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica, who addressed Parliament today.
Kamikamica indicated that web traffic to pornographic sites in Fiji ranks among the top 10 globally. He expressed concern that, while the internet offers significant potential for progress, it has also become a platform for cybercriminals and a space where predators exploit children. He emphasized that online child sexual abuse is a continuation of the existing threats children face.
During his remarks, he highlighted troubling statistics that reveal the widespread nature of this issue and its substantial impact on society. He reiterated that ensuring safety for individuals online and offline is essential.
The minister noted that adult content and pornography have established a notable presence in Fiji, generating more network traffic than other services. In the past year, 245 electronic service providers submitted over 35 million reports of suspected CSAM on their platforms, with 3,638 cases specifically reported from Fiji.
In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received the same number of suspected Child Exploitation Material (CSEM) reports from Fiji. Kamikamica mentioned that a critical action point is for law enforcement to investigate these Cyber Tip reports. Ongoing discussions are taking place with NCMEC and the Fiji Police Force, in collaboration with the U.S. Government, to provide necessary training for law enforcement officials.
The National Taskforce will convene again in November to review findings from working groups aimed at effectively addressing the issues of pornography and sexual abuse.