The Papua New Guinean government has shut down the social media platform Facebook, in what it describes as a test to mitigate hate speech, misinformation, pornography and other detrimental content. The test, conducted under the country's anti-terrorism laws, began yesterday and has extended to today.
Facebook users in the country have been unable to log in to the platform and it is unclear how long the ban will go on for.
The government's move was not flagged ahead of the "test" yesterday — a move opposition MPs and media leaders have described as "tyranny" and an "abuse of human rights".
In a statement, PNG's Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili says the initiative was to ensure responsible usage of social media platforms like Facebook while keeping harmful content out of public discourse.
Tsiamalili says they are not attempting to suppress free speech or restrict their citizens from expressing their viewpoints.
He says however, the unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable.
He adds these challenges increasingly threaten the safety, dignity, and well-being of their populace.
It is understood that Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform in PNG, with an estimated 1.3 million users, or about half of the country's estimated 2.6 million internet users.
Meanwhile, the ban has sparked a heated response in PNG, with Media Council of PNG president Neville Choi saying that the move borders on political autocracy, and an abuse of human rights.
PNG opposition MP Allan Bird described the move as draconian and said yesterday, the Police Minister used the Anti-Terrorism Act to shut down Facebook, that was just a test, that was step one.
Bird says there is no limit to the powers the Minister of Police can exercise under this new law and it is a draconian law designed to take away their freedoms.
He says they are now heading into dangerous territory and everyone is powerless to stop this tyranny.
In a further complication, PNG's National Information and Communications Technology Authority revealed last night it was unaware of the government's plans, despite the Police Minister's assertion that the department backed the move.
Papua New Guinea is not the first Pacific country to move down the path of a Facebook ban.
In 2021, neighbouring Solomon Islands — under the leadership of former Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare — introduced plans to ban Facebook but later backed down after a public outcry.
Source: abc.net
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