The Online Safety Act 2018 remains in effect to safeguard individuals from harmful social media content. However, there is a pressing need to provide adequate resources to the Online Safety Commission (OSC) to enable it to fulfill its duties effectively.
Prominent Suva lawyer Jon Apted emphasized this point following an alleged cyberbullying incident that may have tragically resulted in a loss of life yesterday.
According to Apted, the former Commissioner Anne Dunn extensively worked on raising public awareness and establishing the Commission and its network with other stakeholders, including the police and social media platforms. However, since her resignation, the Commission’s visibility and recognition of its role and the Act appear to have diminished.
“I am not sure of the current budget, but there is a significant gap in public awareness and law enforcement,” Apted stated.
He added, “This latest tragic incident underscores the need for the Government to revitalize the Commission and allocate the necessary human and financial resources for it to function properly.”
Apted also stressed the importance of appointing a suitably qualified permanent director. He pointed out that the Commission has the authority to communicate with social media platforms to issue takedown orders.
“As the national regulator, the Commission is empowered to interact with platforms like Facebook (or Instagram/X) to obtain takedown orders. It is crucial that it is adequately staffed and resourced to contribute to preserving mental health and protecting children’s safety,” he said.
Apted noted that while the law itself does not need changes, the OSC requires sufficient resources to carry out its education and enforcement responsibilities.
“The Commission must enhance its awareness programs. It needs to begin taking publicly visible enforcement actions to make people aware of the consequences of their actions,” he concluded.