Papua New Guinea Blocks Facebook to Curb Hate Speech and Misinformation

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has temporarily blocked access to Facebook as part of a government “test” aimed at reducing hate speech, misinformation, and explicit content. The move, announced by Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili, is being carried out under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act 2024.

The decision has sparked backlash from opposition leaders and media groups, who fear it could set a precedent for broader internet censorship. Opposition MP Allan Bird called the ban “draconian,” while the Media Council of PNG warned it could infringe on press freedom and human rights.

Despite the ban, many PNG citizens have reportedly started using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions and regain access to Facebook. Meanwhile, the country’s telecommunications regulators, including the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), have claimed they were not informed before the implementation of the ban.

The government has not specified how long the restriction will last, but similar attempts in other Pacific nations, such as the Solomon Islands’ proposed Facebook ban in 2021, were ultimately abandoned due to public outcry.