The Papua New Guinea Government is taking significant steps to regulate Facebook usage through mobile operators and with the involvement of the ICT industry regulator. Recently, Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jnr warned the parent company Meta about forthcoming measures aimed at addressing the threats posed by hate speech, misinformation, and other harmful content on social media in the country.
Tsiamalili praised the successful testing of technology implemented under the framework of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2024, conducted in collaboration with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), and various internet service providers. This new initiative aims to ensure responsible social media use by mitigating the spread of false information and harmful content in Papua New Guinea.
As social media users in the country experienced interruptions when accessing Facebook via mobile devices, the Minister assured that this was not an attempt to suppress free speech. Instead, he emphasized the need to control the spread of fake news and other harmful materials that could impact the safety and dignity of citizens in a culturally diverse society.
The Minister’s comments underline a commitment to leveraging technology not only to monitor harmful content but also to enhance public safety and freedom of expression. The aim is to develop an online environment where individuals, especially women and children, can engage without facing exploitation or danger from detrimental materials.
Tsiamalili also called upon Meta and other social media companies to collaborate with the Papua New Guinea government in promoting responsible platform use. He expressed a commitment to ensuring all communication platforms operate transparently and responsibly within the nation to support national security, commerce, and education.
Despite the challenges posed by technological regulation, there is a hopeful outlook that these steps could lead to a safer online community, enabling citizens to express their views freely while being protected from harmful content. This approach demonstrates the government’s awareness of global trends in social media regulation and its proactive effort to adapt these measures to fit the unique context of Papua New Guinea.
The increasing focus on a safer digital environment reflects a broader regional movement towards improving online safety and responsibility, as similar discussions are taking place in surrounding Pacific nations like Fiji, which also grapples with the implications of social media on youth and the impact of online harmful content.
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