PNG Police Minister Tsiamalili said the government is not attempting to suppress free speech or restrict our citizens from expressing their viewpoints. Photo: 123RF
The Papua New Guinea Media Council says there needs to be more transparency from government agencies when it comes to free speech and freedom of expression.
The Council is also critical of the government apparently testing new technology to control access to social media, without telling the people what is going on.
Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili announced on Monday that new technology to enhance law enforcement against the abuse of social media platforms had been tested.
"We are not attempting to suppress free speech or restrict our citizens from expressing their viewpoints," Tsiamalili said.
"However, the unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable."
However, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the National Information and Communication Authority (NICTA), show both these groups were unaware of the supposed testing.
East Sepik govenor and MP Allan Bird said Tsiamalili used the under the new anti-terrorism law to shut down Facebook.
"It is draconian law designed to take away our freedoms," he said.
PNG Media Council president Neville Choi said for the government to "proceed to conduct tests of new technology on its citizens without their knowledge borders on politically autocracy, and an abuse of human rights."
He said testing new technology without the knowledge of both NICTA and DICT is now pushing the boundaries of jurisdiction into the private spaces of citizens.
He added it is giving too much power to one person, that is the Police Minister, to decide what matters constitute threats to national security and justify such action.
