A RECENT report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has highlighted both progress and challenges in Fiji’s digital landscape, particularly around human rights, privacy, and digital governance.
Titled “Assessing Internet Development in Fiji”, the report presents major findings and recommendations of the comprehensive assessment conducted between September 2023 and September 2024.
“Fiji recognises the importance of promoting human rights online, including through efforts to recognise Internet access as a fundamental right,” the report states.
“Concerns remain over media freedom and the potential for governmental control of online spaces, highlighting the need for a stronger, more balanced legal framework that protects civil liberties while ensuring digital security, in alignment with International Human Rights.”
The report states privacy is another key concern among Fijians as the country lacks a dedicated privacy act.
While some protections exist under the 2013 Constitution and other laws, incidents of privacy violations, such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, “remain common.”
Laws like the Online Safety Act of 2018 “aim to protect citizens’ online identities, but gaps in enforcement persist.”
“The Government has introduced the National Digital Strategy 2025–2030, which aims to establish a coordinated approach to scaling digital technology, including the development of a comprehensive data protection framework aligned with international standards.”
The UNESCO reports that transparency is also being reformed in Fiji with the introduction of the Access to Information Bill 2025, which aims to strengthen transparency by establishing clear procedures for requesting information and repealing the unimplemented 2018 Act.
The Bill is currently under review by the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights.