FIJI’S current laws are limiting the Online Safety Commission’s ability to proactively act against harmful content online.
OSC Commissioner Filipe Batiwale said the commission cannot independently remove social media accounts or intervene when harmful content appears online without first receiving a complaint and following the legal processes set out under existing legislation.
Speaking on The Lens@177, Mr Batiwale said public consultations on the review of the Online Safety Act had revealed growing calls for the commission to be given stronger powers to act without waiting for complaints to be lodged.
“We live by the principle of rule of law, and right now the current laws that we have makes it very hard to police, because we cannot just wield that power,” he said.
He was asked of pictures of deceased persons, pictures of people who have died in custody, have been released on social media by Alex Forewood and that OSC has said time and time again to Fijians, do not share these pictures, it’s illegal, it’s not in good taste.
Mr Batiwale noted that despite these warnings, content continued to be shared online.
While declining to comment on any specific ongoing matter being investigated by the commission including investigations in Alexandra Forwood, he said the commission does not have the authority to directly order the removal of social media accounts.
Mr Batiwale said the commission cannot simply contact social media companies and request that an individual be blocked from a platform.
“Social media platforms operate under their own rules and community guidelines, and users who breach those rules may face actions or penalties imposed by the platforms themselves.”
Mr Batiwale said any expansion of the commission’s powers would depend on the outcome of the ongoing review of Fiji’s online safety laws.
