Friday 29th November, 2023
Amid the growing risk of illegal and harmful activities being facilitated by social media, a policy will be developed to protect citizens.
Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Hon. Timothy Masiu, announced the forthcoming Social Media Policy 2025 in Parliament on (insert).
While acknowledging the transformative role of social media, Minister Masiu raised concerns about the darker side of the platform.
“Social media has transformed the way we communicate, connect, and do business.”
“However, alongside its benefits, it has also become a place that has facilitated illegal and harmful activities such as human and drug trafficking, cyber harassment, and the proliferation of explicit and harmful content,” he said.
He said that vulnerable populations, especially children and young people, are increasingly at risk of exploitation and negative influence in unregulated online places.
The proposed Social Media Policy 2025 includes:
- Restricted Access for Children: Individuals aged 16 and below will be restricted from accessing social media platforms deemed inappropriate.
- Mandatory Digital ID Verification: Citizens aged 16 and above will require a verified SevisPass (Digital ID) to access social media platforms in the country.
- Platform Accountability: Social media platforms operating in Papua New Guinea will be mandated to:
- Legally register in the country and comply with national laws.
- Route their traffic through the country’s Internet Exchange Point (IXP) to ensure transparency and oversight.
The Social Media Policy 2025 will undergo public consultation in January 2025.
This phase will involve additional baseline assessments to ensure the policy is evidence-based, socially inclusive, and aligned with the country’s socio-economic priorities.
Minister Masiu said the policy will form the foundation for introducing new legislation or regulations as required to enforce these measures effectively.