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Embargoed until:
EST 17:00 / GMT 22:00 14 November 2022
AEDT 09:00 / FJT 10:00 15 November 2022

Regulators collaborate through new global network to counter online
harm

Regulators from Australia, Fiji, Ireland and the United Kingdom are joining forces to
encourage and coordinate global efforts to make the online world a safer place.

The new Global Online Safety Regulators Network will be formally launched at the Family
Online Safety Institute Conference in Washington DC today.

The Network is a collaboration between the first movers in online safety regulation –
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Fiji’s Online Safety Commission and Ofcom in the UK –
with support from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The Network is intended to pave the way for a coherent international approach to online
safety regulation, by enabling new online safety regulators to share information, experience
and best practices. Members will share a commitment to act independently of commercial
and political influence, as well as to human rights, democracy and the rule of law

The Network is being set up at a time of rapid evolution in the global digital landscape and a
greater focus on online safety issues from governments, industry and citizens alike. This
includes recent legislative reforms like Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021, Fiji’s Online
Safety Act 2018, the UK’s Online Safety Bill, Ireland’s Online Safety and Media Regulation
Bill 2022 and the European Union’s Digital Services Act, as well as online safety reform work
underway in Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.

Senior representatives from the four founders of the Network said that with a number of
global online safety regulators now being established around the world, the time is right to
link up, learn from each other, and look at new ways of working together to counter a range
of online harms.

Quotes attributable to Network founders 

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: 
“I’ve always believed the future of effective online safety regulation would involve a network
of global regulators working together to make the online world a safer place for everyone.
Today’s announcement is the first step in making that future a reality.

“In 2015, we were the world’s only online safety regulator. Today, I’m happy to report that
this is no longer the case and online safety regulators are starting to pop up all over the
globe, backed by new laws ensuring providers of digital services are held to account.

“Our new Network will also help to avoid the risk of a “global splinternet” of inconsistent
regulation by setting out a clearer and more consistent international framework for industry
to follow.”

Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive, Ofcom, UK:
“Global companies don’t consider borders as barriers to their business models, and neither
should we when it comes to regulating them. If we’re going to help everyone from Melbourne
to Manchester enjoy a safer life online, countries need to collaborate and share their
experience and expertise. That’s why we’ve launched this Network.

“Ofcom has already shown that regulation can make a difference, after just one year of
oversight of UK video sites like TikTok, Snapchat and Twitch. We’re looking forward to
extending these powers so we can protect more people from serious harm while continuing
to champion the great things about being online. Strong global cooperation and consistency
will be key to that.”

Mary Motofaga, A/g Commissioner, Online Safety Commission, Fiji:
“For a Pacific country as geographically remote and culturally rich as Fiji, the Global Online
Safety Regulators Network offers a great opportunity for members to share information,
discuss and address challenges such as cross-border complaints and acknowledging
cultural diversity.

“Collaboration with our international stakeholders is crucial to achieving success because
the online space does not have any boundaries, and we are stronger together than apart.
“The Fijian Online Safety Commission looks forward to the launch of the Global Online
Safety Regulators Network as we work together to promote an inclusive and safe online
culture for all.”

Celene Craig, Chief Executive Officer, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland:
“The BAI has consistently pursued co-operation and partnership as tools in effective and
practical regulation. The development of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network is the
embodiment of this approach and the Network is committed to bringing together like-minded
independent regulators who are working together to foster best practice, share experiences
and expertise and co-ordinate regulatory approaches in the pursuit of a safe and equitable
online environment.

“While the BAI is not a regulator in online safety, it has contributed to this Network through
the online safety work it has undertaken regarding the transposition of the Audiovisual Media
Services Directive and the development of Ireland’s online safety and media regulation
regime. This work allows the BAI to have observer status in the Network.

“Online safety regulation in Ireland will soon come under the remit of a new body, Coimisiún
na Meán (the Media Commission) once the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is
enacted into law. We hope that the preparatory work the BAI has undertaken in the
development of this Network and the valuable interactions with regulators operating in the
online safety space will assist our specialist online safety colleagues when the work of
Coimisiún na Meán commences next year.”

Media contacts 
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: media@esafety.gov.au or +61 439 519 684
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Joanne Ahern, joanne@dhr.ie or +353 87 9881837
Ofcom, United Kingdom: media.office@ofcom.org.uk or +44 300 123 1795.
Online Safety Commission, Fiji: info@osc.com.fj or +679 9906652

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The post Stakeholder Engagements appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

It’s important to know that you can stop it if it is shared with you simply by not continuing the cycle. By sharing such content you are actively enabling sexual abuse and harassment.

Don’t share it, report it using tools on the social media or messenger platform and then report the matter to the police immediately.

The OSC works intimately with law enforcement to bolster online safety. Programmes such as our Online Champions workshops have provided community leaders, university students and parents with the opportunity to talk about what someone is watching, playing or simply scrolling past on their digital devices.

While this is another example of how abusers can use technology perversely, we urge communities and online citizens to take a stand against sharing nonconsented images or video. Remember: report it, block it, do not share it

The post Stop The Spread appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The Commission embarked on an online safety champions programme to help community members, parents, advocates and university students learn more about how they could be safe online during this lockdown period.

We can all feel how quickly we had to adapt to our “new normal” after the April wave of this pandemic. Many of us find ourselves working from home, helping our children with their online learning, and even picking up some new dance moves through these Tik Tok videos.

And it’s all fun and exciting but there are some things that seem to make us wonder about how safe we really are on these digital platforms. That is what this seven week programme was all about. Introducing participants to various topics such as image based abuse, gaming online, abhorrent content, keeping our children safe online and much more.

Throughout the programme, participants had the opportunity to engage with the Commission more effectively, meeting virtually once a week to learn or explore various topics, discuss their experiences, share information on the OSC Facebook page, and learn how to report to the OSC.

Sign up today to join the Online Safety Community and find our how you too can be an online safety champion!

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With the current lockdown period in the central division and containment areas around the country, it seems some of our Bula Spirit is struggling to be brought onto out online spaces.

A rise in online abuse reports and physical violence against women over the recent weeks attest to some of us dealing with unsafe homes.

While some welcome estranged family members back home, some may be finding this time more difficult than others.

While some working mums are excited to spend more quality time with their children, some are fighting to protect their children in their own homes.

Domestic and family violence is never one dimensional and technology advancements add another element to the mix.

Here are a few ways to stay safe online even during this lockdown period and please remember if you are in immediate danger, call 917 :

1. Change your password frequently on your social media profiles;
2. If a message is still in your message request folder, do not respond;
3. Call 1560 to speak to someone today.

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1. For the latest Covid-19 information from Government check out
2. Check reliable sources: On Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, look for the blue checkmark next to the page name like the Fijian Government page, Online Safety Commission page, and much more.
3. Verify the information: Look at whether other notable sources are sharing similar information. Don’t just trust one source of information.
4. Critically evaluate the information and consider whether it is true, false, fake, unverified and do not share immediately unless you have verified the information.

It is very important to talk to your children during this time about the information they may come across online. Teach them how to critically evaluate information they come across online. And make sure not to forward or share information that is not verified by notable sources such as the Fijian Government or World Health Organisation.

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