Victims or witnesses of harmful online communication and cyberbullying are being urged to lodge formal complaints so incidents can be investigated and offenders held accountable.
Online Safety Commissioner Filipe Batiwale, speaking at Cyber Week in Nadi, said the Commission condemns all attacks on social media and treats every complaint seriously. He stressed that abuse should be reported both on the platform where it occurs and to the Online Safety Commission to ensure cases are captured and investigated. Batiwale also noted the Commission is operating on limited resources, receiving $1.5 million for the current financial year, while carrying the large responsibility of promoting online safety and running nationwide awareness programmes — activities that place a significant cost on taxpayers.
Recent Commission reporting has shown a sharp rise in complaints over the past months, including image‑based abuse and defamatory material, with particular impact on women and children. The Commission has highlighted legal and operational limits under the current Online Safety Act, including restricted powers to remove content or compel platforms to act, and is pursuing legislative review and discussions with agencies such as the Attorney‑General’s Chambers, the DPP and international partners to strengthen enforcement and cross‑border cooperation.
Practical advice for those affected:
– Report the abusive post to the social media platform immediately and also file a formal complaint with the Online Safety Commission.
– Preserve evidence (screenshots, URLs, timestamps) but avoid resharing harmful content in ways that could amplify harm to victims.
– If under 18, involve a parent, guardian or school so a complaint can be lodged as required by law.
– Seek support from counselling or victim‑support services; the Commission works with service providers and can assist with referrals.
Why formal complaints matter: they preserve the evidentiary trail, allow authorities to investigate patterns of abuse, enable coordination with police or prosecutors where criminal conduct is suspected, and help the Commission identify trends that inform policy and resource needs.
Commentary: The combination of rising complaints and constrained resources underlines the need for legislative reform and boosted capacity. Ongoing reviews of the Online Safety Act and talks with regional partners signal potential improvements — from clearer enforcement powers to greater cooperation with platforms and law enforcement — which could strengthen protections for vulnerable groups and improve outcomes for victims.
Brief summary: The Online Safety Commissioner urges formal reporting of online abuse to both platforms and the Commission, highlights underfunding of the Commission ($1.5m this year), and points to growing complaints, especially image‑based harm affecting women and children, while calling for legal reform and greater support for victims to create a safer digital environment.
Hopeful note: With increased public reporting, the current legislative review, and planned interagency and international collaboration, there is a realistic pathway to stronger enforcement, better victim support, and safer online spaces for Fijians.
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