Information Minister Lynda Tabuya has warned of a sharp rise in online misinformation in Fiji, saying false posts are increasingly causing confusion, panic and reputational harm — a problem made worse during emergencies and as the country heads into local government elections.
Tabuya told journalists the issue has become more prominent as social media and digital platforms accelerate the spread of unverified content. She highlighted recent cyclone warnings as a stark example, when posts purporting to be official announcements claimed civil service offices had been closed and that public servants were not required to report to work. The statements, Tabuya said, “appeared official but were completely false,” prompting families to scramble for reliable information and sowing needless uncertainty.
“Sometimes rumors are shared simply to gain likes, followers, or attention,” Tabuya said. She warned that the consequences go beyond annoyance: private content shared without consent or viral videos can fuel personal attacks, damage reputations and even lead to employment terminations. “But a single post can damage a reputation. It can cause termination of employment. A single rumor can create panic,” she added.
The Ministry of Information Fiji is actively monitoring online channels and working to verify and correct false reports, Tabuya said, though she acknowledged the government cannot tackle the problem alone. Her appeal extended to citizens, community leaders and media organisations to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it, particularly with local government elections approaching.
Tabuya’s comments follow similar concerns from other government officials about the corrosive effects of social media chatter. In September the acting Attorney-General warned that commentary on ongoing court cases could undermine the justice process, reflecting a broader, cross‑government alarm over how unverified online content can interfere with public institutions and processes.
The minister also pointed to the speed and scale at which private material can spread on platforms such as TikTok, creating opportunities for personal attacks and misinformation to go viral within minutes. In disaster contexts, she said, false reports can complicate official emergency responses and hamper the public’s ability to follow accurate safety instructions.
As the ministry steps up monitoring and correction efforts, Tabuya urged the public to rely on official channels for critical announcements and to think twice before amplifying content whose origin or accuracy is unclear. The message underlines growing government concern about the twin risks of misinformation during both crises and electoral periods, when accurate, trusted communication is most critical.
Leave a comment