Suva lawyer Jon Apted has urged the Online Safety Commission to fulfill its responsibilities as an independent regulator of online safety in Fiji.
Apted’s call to action follows the alleged suicide of a renowned local TikToker and social media influencer.
He appealed to Fijians to be cautious about what they post and share on social media platforms.
“Fiji social media has been out of control for a while now with flagrant personal bullying and nasty exposés being the daily norm on many accounts and on the large Fiji group sites,” Apted remarked.
The Constitutional lawyer explained that it is illegal to post anything on social media or send electronic messages that could cause serious emotional distress to a reasonable person or to post or share an intimate video recording.
He noted that such offenses are punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000.
“Unfortunately, the Online Safety Act has been forgotten and the Online Safety Commission has disappeared from the public stage. Now sadly, a prominent social media personality, who was herself the subject of intense bullying over the last couple of days, has reportedly ended her own life,” Apted said.
The Online Safety Act 2018 was enacted by Parliament to establish the Online Safety Commission to promote online safety, deter harmful electronic communication, and manage related issues.
The OSC began its operations in 2019, providing support to individuals facing harmful online content by offering services and resources aimed at minimizing harm and educating the public on proactive and safe online behavior.