Fiji’s Women, Children and Social Protection Minister Lynda Tabuya has described pornography as a “new drug” affecting the nation. She emphasized that while Fiji is combatting drug abuse, the availability and accessibility of pornography pose similar risks, impacting the brain in the same way that methamphetamine and cocaine do.
In response to this issue, the Cabinet has approved the establishment of a pornography task force aimed at addressing the negative effects of pornography. Tabuya highlighted that pornography remains easily accessible on the internet, prompting the government’s commitment to tackling this challenge through the new task force.
The task force will be co-chaired by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Communications, which will oversee the initiative’s online portal. She noted that successful measures have been taken by other countries to ban pornography by blocking access.
Tabuya also mentioned the arrival of Starlink, a satellite internet service, and the anticipated visit of Elon Musk in October, indicating an opportunity to focus efforts on educating the population about responsible internet and social media use.
She raised concerns about young girls utilizing apps like Telegram for trading nude images, pointing out that without parental consent, this act is considered a crime. The task force’s role will include examining broader internet usage in Fiji. Tabuya is advocating for a national campaign to promote awareness of responsible internet practices as the country becomes increasingly connected globally.