Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)
Showing posts with label jgrifiths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jgrifiths. Show all posts

Thursday, 31 January 2019

The Social Media in Fiji and the Online Safety Act: Balance Needed

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UPDATE. This article  from the UK looks at the responsibilities  of  website owners and asks if social media should be banned. Vinaka, VM
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The following is based largely on this article (click) by James Griffiths of CNN International with my own views in italics interspersed.

In May last year, after a short two month public consultation, the Fiji Government passed the Online Safety Act which placed  limits on what could be published on social media without the threat of prosecution.  Government said the Act was to prevent online postings such as that reported in the Fiji Sun of  "hundreds of nude and intimate images of women, mostly USP students" and one of the victims had considered suicide.  Postings which causes "harm to the individual" would now be liable to a fine of $9,400 and up to five years in prison. All FijiFirst MPs voted for the Act, and all the Opposition voted against.