Papua New Guinea’s government has shut down social media platform Facebook, in what it describes as a “test” to mitigate hate speech, misinformation, pornography and “other detrimental content”.
The test, conducted under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, began on Monday morning and has extended into Tuesday.
Facebook users in the country have been unable to log-in to the platform and it is unclear how long the ban will go on for.
The government’s move was not flagged ahead of the “test” on Monday — a move opposition MPs and media leaders have described as “tyranny” and an “abuse of human rights”.
Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform in the country, with an estimated 1.3 million users, or about half of the country’s estimated 2.6 million internet users.
The platform is a critical tool for public discourse in the country, with many highly active forums used to discuss PNG politics and social issues.
Yet, the government has been highly critical of Facebook with the platform often blamed for helping spread misinformation, particularly in light of a recent spate of tribal killings in the country.
The platform is a critical tool for public discourse in the country, with many highly active forums used to discuss PNG politics and social issues.
There is your fucking problem. Stop fucking centralizing an entire countries discourse to a corporate propaganda platform.
Especially a foreign social media company with algorithm that isn’t transparent and has the power to block whatever users and posts they want to push the desired narrative. Its not a free and open platform but a propaganda tool of a single billionaire.
Right???
This… I know that my views aren’t the majority, but man do I love this platform and how people actually will have a legit conversation about issues.
The people who are over emotional and stirring the pot don’t get the same support here. Most just want the truth and to actually talk. I love this!
To shut down pornography they might have to block 1 or 2 more websites … at least.
Just a small handful, no big deal.
Oh, snap! You just Papua’d his New Guinea with that dick joke.
As long as it only occupies one hand then fine.
I mean…I need 2 hands. It’s a handful. It’s 2 handfuls! It’s a lot to go around!
…ladies.
Look ma, no hands!
Do people use Facebook for porn? Like, on their personal accounts? That’s weird.
i don’t know, only went with what the title says
Misinformation and hate speech on Facebook, sure, but pornography?
It’s pornography speech.
Normally, I see any news on government blocking social media for any stated reasons as typically a cover for censorship. But with how Facebook and other social media morphed into something else, I could not care less if they are blocked.
I want to celebrate this, but it’s hard not to see it as an attempt at authoritarianism. I think the right way to do a Facebook ban is to ensure people have access to a good alternative (like Mastodon) before pulling the plug.
This absolutely is censorship. Correct way to handle this would be to create laws and prosecute Facebook for not following them.
All of these comments are justifying autocracy because it’s their flavor of autocracy smh
Sure, Papua New Guinea said no, but what did Momma New Guinea say?
boooo
This just reeks of control.
It’s trolls, trolls are what Facebook stands on. But what do the trolls stand on? It’s trolls on trolls on trolls all the way down.
There is nothing trustworthy on Facebook. Shut it down.
My father is a prepper in his 70s and my brother has become a flat earther. Down with Facebook and YouTube, the two halves of the most evil and vile existence on this planet. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Youtube is not all bad. The algorithm is, but the vast amount of content on it means that theres some genuinely helpful stuff. Videos about repair and fixing, educational videos on any subject in the world, videos about acceptance and self love
There’s no hope for facebook though, except the not so facebook marketplace (im gonna need a resurgence in like craigslist for that)
It’s really suspicious how the yt algo keeps trying to deliver me right wing content when I don’t really engage with political content on that site and the few pieces I do, is Behind the Bastards or Lazerpig.
I ended up installed a 3rd party channel blocker.
edit: I’ll add that Amazon keeps suggesting right wing podcasts as being related to very non-political items(just window shopping Amazon. I don’t purchase from there unless no one else has the item).
What porn? Girls in bikinis?
Worse. Bare ankles.
Hussies!
Yeah I’m not sure Facebook is what I’d be worried about for porn.
Two out three ain’t bad. Go for it.
Everyone should kill their accounts and connection to the site.
There’s pornography on Facebook! That’s disgusting! Someone let me know where so I can be sure to avoid it…
The shut down Facebook? All of it?
Or did they simply block it in their country?
What, you expect journalists to use the correct words to unambiguously convey a concept?
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