Internet under threat?: The politics of online censorship in the Pacific Islands

Abstract

In the Pacific, there have been startling news releases of governments making attempts at censoring the internet, a move seen to point towards silencing dissenting views on popular online forums. The conflicting trends between the new political forum ushered in by the new media on the one hand, and the restrictive mode of state censorship on the other hand, pose serious challenges to the broader framework of rights and freedom of expressions. The aim of this article is to examine the regulatory approaches being developed and/or proposed in response to the emergence of new media in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). This article reviews two ways in which Pacific island governments are attempting to regulate the internet: firstly through the development of legislation to prosecute cybercriminals, and secondly through the banning of certain internet sites, most notably Facebook. Despite the disparities in internet penetration levels, the article reveals that nearly all countries in the Pacific are increasingly regulating or are moving towards regulating the internet. The justifications for internet regulation and censorship are largely predicated around the rhetoric of protecting its citizens from the negative effects of the internet. However, these regulations seem to be a response to Pacific Island governments’ fears of growing criticism and dissent on social media platforms.

The media and journalism challenges in Melanesia

“…The then Prime Minister Sato Kilman accused the Yumi Toktok Stret Facebook group of 'inciting social anarchy and instability', adding that the wrong use of media could 'easily destabilise' peace and order (Singh, 2017). The current Vanuatu Government is working with the Australian Government and the Council of Europe on a cybercrime bill to target 'false claims' on social networking sites such as Facebook, which were 'out of control' (Kant et al, 2018).…”

“…But Sogavare dismissed the group as a 'listed charity' interfering in national politics (Singh, 2017). The Director of Public Prosecution, Ronald Bei Talasasa, has stated that legislation is needed to overcome cybercrime and to control Facebook, where '…people are just running free' (Kant et al, 2018).…”

The Global State of Democracy 2019: Addressing the Ills, Reviving the Promise

“…In the Pacific Islands, there have also been attempts to stifle dissent and censor the Internet. Most recently, governments in the subregion have made efforts to regulate the Internet through legislation relating to the prosecution of cyber-criminals and restrictions on the use of social media platforms such as Facebook (Kant et al 2018).…”

“…Critics, however, did not subscribe to this argument. Questions regarding the act's implications for freedom of expression and the apparent lack of public consultation prior to its certification have plagued the government (Kant et al 2018).…”

“…Enacted in May 2018, according to the Fijian Government, the Online Safety Act was passed to protect citizens from cases of cyberbullying and harassment (Singh 2018). While the implications of the law are yet to be realized, commentators have cautioned that it may have undesirable effects on political expression, given Fiji's history of censorship (Kant et al 2018).…”