The National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States reported receiving 3,638 suspected cases of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) from Fiji in 2023. This information was disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica during a recent parliamentary session, where he provided an update on the National Taskforce addressing pornography.
Kamikamica explained that the NCMEC operates as a national clearing house for leads concerning child exploitation, with electronic service providers in the U.S. legally obligated to report such incidents. Most reports, approximately 99 percent, come from these providers, including Meta, Google, and TikTok, with a small fraction originating from public sources.
In light of the situation, Kamikamica emphasized the importance of law enforcement investigating these cyber tip reports. Discussions are already underway involving both the NCMEC and the Fiji Police Force, with assistance from the United States government to offer necessary training for local law enforcement agencies.
He also highlighted the need for vigilance among parents, guardians, and communities regarding the sharing of images and videos of children online. Kamikamica warned against posting inappropriate images, stressing that once shared, such content can be misused by predators in harmful ways. He called for collective efforts to protect children in both physical and digital environments.