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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the Papua New Guinea government’s announcement that it intends to shut down Facebook for at least a month, saying it would significantly limit people’s access to news and information, harming both the media and the public.
Communications Minister Sam Basil announced the plan on May 28, saying Facebook will be blocked One month or longer to identify and delete ‘Hiding behind fake accounts’ or “Publishing false and misleading information.”
Many observers suspect the plan is motivated by the government’s desire to silence online critics, particularly those who comment on allegations of government corruption.
“We urge the Papua New Guinea authorities not to go down this path, which is dangerous for freedom of information.” said Daniel Bastard, head of Reporters Without Borders’ Asia-Pacific department.
“Blocking the social network will deprive nearly a million internet users of independently reported news and information. Instead of resorting to censorship, the communications minister should encourage online platforms to be more transparent and accountable in their content regulation.”
Outcry over Basil’s statement Not least, he has expressed a very different view on the impact of social networks on Papua New Guinean society. Before being appointed to the government, the former opposition member congratulate Blogger who exposes government corruption on Facebook.
Ironically, Papua New Guinean students in China These users, who must use a virtual private network to access Facebook because it has been blocked since 2009, condemned the government’s plan because it would make it harder for them to follow news from their hometowns.
Papua New Guinea Reporters Without Borders’ 2018 World Press Freedom Index It currently ranks 53rd out of 180 countries.
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