PR 04/24

20 November 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Recently it has been brought to the attention of the Online Safety Commission (‘OSC’) that there are some social media users who are sharing and circulating videos or photos that feature other people without their consent. It has further been noted that such videos or photos when they are uploaded or circulated on the social media at times invite to enormous amount of negative, degrading or sarcasm intended comments towards the person(s) who are featured in the videos or photos. Such comments can have impact on a person either emotionally or psychologically to whom the comments have been intended towards.

The posting of such materials that feature other people without their consent and with the intention of causing harm is classified as Online Bullying by the OSC. We would also like to advise the members of the public that they need to be mindful when placing comments on the social media platforms as their comments may be classified as Online Bullying depending on the nature of their comment(s).

Our Advise to the Social Media Users

The OSC would like to give the following advise to the social media users:

• Refrain from uploading the videos or photos of other people without obtaining their consent.
• After getting the consent from the person(s) featured in the videos or photos, please consider if the content of the video or photo is appropriate for sharing or not. Please consider whether the content could be subjected to negative, degrading or sarcasm intended comments.
• If you see videos or photos on the social media accounts, before placing any comments or remarks on the post or even messaging the person who is featured in the video or photo, do consider the impact that your comment or message may have on the person(s) featured in the video or photo. 

Our Advise to the Victims of Online Bullying

If you think you or your child has been subjected to Online Bullying, please do lodge your complaint with the OSC through the following means:

1. Visit the OSC Office at Level 9, Suvavou House, Victoria Parade, Suva.
2. Make a phone call to OSC on (679) 998 0242/ 330 0547.
3. Send an email on help@osc.com.fj
4. Visit OSC website on www.osc.com.fj and report your complaint via the “Report Now” link on the website.

Once we receive the complaint we will do our analysis and if needed, we may require the post to be removed. Needful actions may also be taken against people who are perpetrators of Online Bullying.

Please use the social media platform safely and respectfully.

ENDS

The post Think Twice, Comment Wise: Avoid Online Bullying? appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

PR 03/24

06 November 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Recently it has been brought to the attention of the Online Safety Commission (‘OSC’) that there are some social media accounts which are uploading intimate videos and photos that feature other people.

The OSC strongly condemns such acts and urges the members of the public who are being victimised by such act to lodge their complaints with the OSC at the earliest.

The posting of such intimate materials that contains other people are classified as Image Based Abuse by the OSC.

The OSC will only be able to take any action in getting the Image Based Abuse content removed from the social media platforms after a formal complaint has been lodged by the victims who are featured in the content.

Lodging of the Complaint

The following persons can lodge the complaint with OSC:

• any person who has been featured in the intimate image or video;
• parent or guardian of the person in the intimate image or video and they are a child under 18; or
• parent or guardian of the person in the intimate image or video and they need help due to a cognitive, mental or physical issue.

What Happens Once a Complaint has been Lodged

• the OSC will first analyse the complaint and discuss with the victim; and
• the OSC will then contact the concerned social media platform and request for removal of the content.

How Can You Help to Combat the Issue

If you are a victim of image-based abuse you can help in combatting the issue by lodging a complaint to OSC through the following means:

• Visit the OSC Office at Level 9, Suvavou House, Victoria Parade, Suva.
• Make a phone call to OSC on (679) 998 0242/ 330 0547
• Send an email on help@osc.com.fj
• Visit OSC website on www.osc.com.fj and report your complaint via the “Report Now” link on the website.

The OSC would like to advise all the members of the public that if you are being subjected to Image Based Abuse, you are not alone we are here to assist you.

ENDS

The post Sharing of Intimate Videos and Images appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

PR 02/24

24 October 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Background

The Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN) has today published a regulatory index, which provides a comparison for how international online safety regulators are approaching their respective regulatory duties.

GOSRN is a forum aimed at supporting collaboration between online safety regulators across the world. By bringing regulators together, the Network aims to bring about coherence between international regulators’ approaches to online safety, through the sharing of information, expertise and experience.

The Network currently comprises nine regulators spanning five continents: the eSafety Commissioner (Australia); Online Safety Commission (Fiji); Arcom (France); Coimisiún na Meán (Ireland); Korea Communications Standards Commission (Republic of Korea); Council for Media Services (Slovakia); Film and Publication Board (South Africa); and Autoriteit Terroristische Content en Kinderpornografisch Materiaal (Netherlands) and Ofcom (UK).

Online Safety Regulatory Index

In October 2024, the Network published the Online Safety Regulatory Index, collating members' approaches to online safety regulation.

The Index is designed to support comparison of online safety regulatory frameworks. collaboration between regulators, and regulatory coherence. By understanding the areas of consistency and divergence in regulations, regulators can aim to ensure that the online safety of internet users in our respective countries does not stop ‘at the border’ and that companies can benefit from economies of scale.

Use the Index to better understand the online safety regulatory environment of member countries.

GOSRN Regulatory Index 2024

The post GOSRN: Regulatory Index appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

PR 01/24
04 September 2024 
PRESS RELEASE

The post The Online Safety Commission Unveils Swipe Safe Training Project 2024 appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The post Safer Internet Day 2024 appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

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

The post Global Online Safety Regulators Network Media Release appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The post Stakeholder Engagements 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!

The post Online Safety Champions Pilot appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

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The post New Regional Partner appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.