THE Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) is calling for more transparency amongst government agencies in consideration of matters directly impacting free speech and freedom of expression. It also voiced its concern that government agencies are able to ‘test’ new technology on Papua New Guinean citizens in community spaces like social media, without any warning, and without consideration for the democratic principles of full disclosure and transparent governance. This is in relation to what the police minister has described as the testing of new technology to enhance law enforcement against the abuse of social media platforms. Inquiries by MCPNG Member Newsrooms to the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the National Information and Communication Authority (NICTA), and a media statement released around midnight last night by the latter clearly indicate that both these agencies who should be leading any public agenda on social media were completely unaware of what the police minister was referring to. MCPNG Media Members were also very critical of the lack of urgency by government agencies to provide credible information to the mainstream media to counter growing misinformation amongst the public. “The police minister in his vague statement voiced a sense of accomplishment at what he refers to as the successful testing of technology capable of combatting the abuse of social media platforms in the country. “However, 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,” says MCPNG President, Neville Choi. Speaking on behalf of the MCPNG, Mr. Choi said for the RPNGC to test new technology without the knowledge of both NICTA and DICT is now pushing the boundaries of jurisdiction into the private spaces of citizens, and giving too much power to one person to decide what matters constitute threats to national security and justify such action. These are some of the conclusions that have proliferated public commentary since the weekend. We hope these are not true.

The National Information & Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) in response to the statement from the Police Minister regarding the test to shut down of certain social media platforms, expressed disappointment over how there was no proper coordination and them not being informed about the planned test. NICTA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kila Gulo-Vui clarified NICTA's role and emphasized the importance of a well-coordinated, transparent approach to online regulation. He said while NICTA supports efforts to promote responsible online communication and mitigate harmful content such as hate speech, misinformation, and exploitation, Mr. Gulo-Vui confirmed that he was neither consulted nor involved in the testing referenced by the Police Minister. Mr. Gulo-Vui acknowledged that actions concerning the regulation of online platforms appear to be grounded in clear legal frameworks, such as Sections 14 to 18 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2024 and the National Information and Communications Technology Act 2009 under Section 72, which requires NICTA operator licensees to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. However, he stressed the need for greater inter-agency coordination to ensure that such efforts are transparent, well communicated, and do not inadvertently impact public trust. "Public confidence in our digital governance relies on transparency and consistency in how we approach online regulation. It is essential that all key stakeholders, including NICTA, law enforcement, telecommunications providers, and government agencies, collaborate closely to ensure that any actions taken are well-understood and properly executed," Mr. Gulo-Vui stated. He further emphasized that while maintaining national security is a priority, the balance between safety and digital freedom must be carefully managed. Mr. Gulo-Vui will be addressing this matter with the Minister for ICT today, Tuesday 25th March, to ensure NICTA's role continues to align with the government's broader policy objectives while fostering a cohesive and united approach to digital regulation.

The shutdown of certain social media platforms yesterday was all a test by the National Government to assess its capability to control social media platforms in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in order to protect the people. This was revealed by the Minister for Police Peter Tsiamalili Jnr. in a statement released late on Monday evening, praising the successful testing of innovative technology designed to regulate the use of Facebook and other online platforms to mitigate hate speech, misinformation, pornography, and other detrimental content impacting Papua New Guinea. The test, conducted under the framework of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2024, was executed by the Government in partnership with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), and various internet service providers. This initiative seeks to ensure responsible usage of social media platforms like Facebook while keeping harmful content out of public discourse. “We are not attempting to suppress free speech or restrict our citizens from expressing their viewpoints,” Minister Tsiamalili stated. “However, the unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable. These challenges increasingly threaten the safety, dignity, and well-being of our populace.” “Today’s successful test demonstrates our enhanced technological capacity to more effectively regulate social media platforms. The government is committed to working closely with relevant agencies, including NICTA, the Police Department, telecommunications companies, and internet service providers, to promote responsible communication in Papua New Guinea,” Minister Tsiamalili remarked. He further urged Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to collaborate with the government in advocating for responsible use of the platform within the nation. “We expect Facebook and other social media companies to act with responsibility and to partner with us in ensuring their platforms are not exploited for harmful purposes. If these platforms continue to be misused, the government will not hesitate to take decisive action to safeguard our citizens,” he cautioned. Minister Tsiamalili also noted that the government will collaborate with internet service providers to ensure that all operators are appropriately registered, thereby promoting accountability and responsible communication. “Responsible use of communication platforms is crucial as it influences not only security but also commerce, education, and the overall well-being of our society. As we progress technologically, we must ensure that these tools are leveraged in ways that benefit our people rather than cause harm,” Minister Tsiamalili concluded.