THE Online Safety Commission (OSC) is working closely with the Law Reform Commission to strengthen laws governing online behaviour, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Communications Manoa Kamikamica.
He said behaviour exhibited in recent live videos on TikTok — where adults have been seen daring each other to perform sexual acts or engage in hazardous stunts — will not be tolerated.
“This behaviour on social media is not tolerated,” Mr Kamikamica said.
“We’ve appointed a well-qualified online service commissioner who is focusing on these issues.”
Mr Kamikamica explained that current online safety laws, originally based on earlier versions of Australian and UK legislation, were no longer strong enough.
“Since then, they’ve toughened up their laws quite significantly.
“You will see those laws come through Parliament, hopefully, this year.
“And we can then be able to address some of the concerns that we’re seeing in terms of social media behaviour, which is clearly risky and unacceptable.
“It’s incumbent on the Government to change the laws to encourage better behaviour.
“That’s our priority at the moment.”
While there aren’t any laws in Fiji explicitly addressing this type of mutual online behaviour, the closest provisions under Fiji’s Online Safety Act 2018 require proof of actual harm or intent to harm.
This makes it difficult for authorities to prosecute participants in consensual but offensive or dangerous TikTok challenges.