Global civil society alliance CIVICUS has joined local voices in urging the Fijian government to reform the Online Safety Act 2018, warning that the law’s current provisions risk undermining free expression and democratic debate.
The statement follows renewed calls from Dialogue Fiji last month for urgent amendments to the Act, particularly its contentious Section 24, which criminalises “causing harm by electronic communication.”
Critics say the law has increasingly been used to investigate and prosecute individuals over political commentary, satire, and social media posts.
CIVICUS, which represents a global network of organisations advocating for civil liberties, echoed those concerns. The alliance said laws that are too wide-ranging or unclear can have the unintended consequence of silencing voices that are vital to democratic participation.
“Fiji’s Online Safety Act must protect citizens from genuine online harm, not be used to restrict critical or dissenting voices,” the statement said.
The debate comes as Fiji considers new online content regulations to address issues such as cyberbullying, misinformation, and online abuse. The government has indicated that amendments to the Online Safety Act and additional laws regulating social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube are being prepared for parliamentary consideration.
While the government has said the goal is to promote safer online spaces, rights groups and legal experts caution that overbroad laws could threaten constitutional freedoms.
As Fiji prepares to review its online safety framework, both CIVICUS and Dialogue Fiji urge lawmakers to ensure that new measures strengthen — rather than restrict — citizens’ right to express themselves freely in the digital age.
