The Fiji Police Force has raised serious concerns over the growing circulation of fake news and misinformation on social media, warning that this dangerous trend is provoking hate speech and public unrest.
According to Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu, the latest pattern of sharing deliberately fabricated information — often disguised as credible news from mainstream outlets — poses a major threat to social cohesion and public safety.
“Social media has changed the way we interact, and not always for the better,” said Commissioner Tudravu.
“While we understand that these platforms have become a popular source of information, users must take time to carefully distinguish between accurate information and fake news before sharing.”
The Police Commissioner’s statement comes in the wake of several recent incidents where false narratives shared online led to a spike in hateful and divisive comments.
Some of these fake news posts were made to appear as official news articles, misleading users and fueling outrage based on lies.
Commissioner Tudravu strongly urged the public to remain vigilant and to verify the authenticity of content before sharing it further.
“We are urging everyone to be aware and mindful of posts they come across, especially those from questionable sources,” he emphasized.
Reports of fabricated news content have already been referred to the Criminal Investigations Department’s Digital Forensics team for investigation. The team is expected to begin recording statements from individuals involved in spreading such content in the coming days.
