Last year, Fiji reported a total of 3,638 cases of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), according to Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica, who shared this information in Parliament today. He noted that traffic to pornographic sites in Fiji ranks among the top ten data usage categories globally.
Kamikamica emphasized that while the internet holds vast potential for progress, it has also facilitated the activities of cybercriminals and predators who exploit children’s innocence. He described online child sexual abuse as a continuation of the already existing threat of child sexual abuse.
Highlighting the serious nature of these issues, he pointed to alarming statistics that reveal their widespread impact on society. Ensuring the safety of individuals online and offline, he stated, is of utmost importance.
The minister also remarked that adult content and pornography have a significant presence in Fiji, generating more network traffic than other online services. In the previous year, 245 electronic service providers reported over 35 million instances of suspected CSAM on their platforms, with a shocking 3,638 cases reported specifically 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 indicated that an essential action item is for law enforcement to investigate these Cyber Tip reports. Discussions are already underway between NCMEC and the Fiji Police Force, with support from the U.S. Government to provide necessary training to local authorities.
The National Taskforce will convene again in November, where working groups will present their findings aimed at effectively tackling the issues of pornography and sexual abuse.