Big questions on social media, usage need to be clarified
Major global tech companies should have some sort of presence in Fiji given the influence it has among online users or netizens. While not referring specifically to the world’s biggest social networking website, Minister for National Security, Defence and Foreign Affairs Inia Seruiratu had
Facebook on his mind while addressing business leaders during the CPA conference on Thursday.
In the 2018 January Hootsuite report, 500,000 people in Fiji actively used Facebook.
The numbers would have increased by now because the 2019 January stats showed that there are 1.19 million mobile connections in Fiji - more than Fiji’s population.
Government is concerned that while companies like
Facebook are not registered here or have a Fiji branch or office, yet the impact on people using their platform is far reaching.
It has even changed the direction of some nations. We are on a similar path.
Fiji shares similar concerns with most countries around the world.
Do Facebook and other big tech companies have the capacity to translate our vernacular languages and sort through threats and hate speech?
So, who is responsible when threats are carried out and hate speech become a way of life?
Yes, we can all report a post to Facebook - but is that enough?
Mr Seruiratu asked a number of questions to our business leaders - which is something all stakeholders need to start talking about.
How do governments ensure the rules and community guidelines these companies have on the books are enforced?
Who places checks on organisations which can bounce across borders unchecked and buy influence in the forms of advertisements and propaganda on social media?
How do we protect our citizens from online abuse or criminal networks from using these platforms to coordinate their activities?
It’s time we start talking about these issues at home, in our communities and work spaces