Fiji’s Online Safety Commission is ramping up its campaign to tackle misinformation and boost digital literacy ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Commissioner Filipe Batiwale confirmed the commission is actively expanding its outreach to help communities recognise fake news and protect themselves from online harm.
Speaking during a panel discussion titled ‘Digital Veiwekani: Fighting Fake News Together, at the German Embassy yesterday, Mr Batiwale said the commission was looking ahead to strengthen public awareness ahead of the polls.
“We know that elections are coming up, so we’re already planning ahead at the commission in terms of bolstering our community campaign and awareness,” he said.
“Education is quite critical in the work that we do.
“It’s only through awareness that we can equip Fijians to be more vigilant when forming relationships online and discerning what is real and what is fake.”
As part of its outreach, the commission has visited more than 87 villages in the Ra province and is tailoring its education materials to meet the needs of specific audiences, including vulnerable groups such as children.
It is also working closely with other State agencies to deal with a wider range of online threats.
“Not everything circulating on social media falls under the ambit of online safety,” Mr Batiwale said.
“For example, financial scams are handled by the Fiji Competition Commission.
“So, we work with the relevant State agencies to ensure these issues are addressed and brought to light.”
The commission’s key partners include the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission, which leads the charge on financial scam awareness, and the Fiji Police Force, which assists in interagency cooperation on cybercrime.
