PNG paper advocates draconian social media laws

Transcript

The Pacific Freedom Forum has condemned an editorial in Papua New Guinea's National Newspaper calling for strict control measures on social media users.

The paper, which is owned by Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau, has been widely criticised for the motive behind the editorial.

Jason Brown, the editor of the PFF, which is a regional media watchdog, told Koroi Hawkins the paper's push suits the PNG government which has been calling for social media limits since 2012.

JASON BROWN: Basically the government has been looking at introducing policy or even a law that would require among other things, social network or social media users to use their real name. And to my understanding that is the biggest problem with the new policy.

KOROI HAWKINS: And so this is in terms of, lets say public servants or people that are, could be at risk of losing their jobs if they say things about their government online?

JB: That is correct, losing their jobs, losing business contracts, losing educational opportunities. These are the kind of things people worry about when they speak out and prefer not to use their real names in what are relatively small communities. Obviously Papua New Guinea is a bit bigger but if PNG was to proceed with a law like this it might inspire others as well.

KH: And how important is social media to the freedom of speech or the sharing of information in Papua New Guinea at the moment?

JB: From my understanding hugely important. One Facebook group that we have looked at, "PNG News" has over a hundred thousand members on it. That is huge even by Australian and New Zealand standards. That shows just how well received and how well regarded social media is amongst users who have perhaps not had the ready outlet for their comments that they would have liked in the past through say old media.

KH: And do you think the Papua New Guinea government's policy or concept is for accountability or so they can get at these people who are saying things about them?

JB: Certainly understand the concept of wanting more accountability and there are examples of people going too far on social media calling for people to be killed and so forth. But the real problem with accountability is not someone leaving a few comments on Facebook or Twitter. But accountability within the governments themselves within the elected representatives getting into parliament and not explaining what they are doing to the people.

KH: And how close is this law to becoming part of the legal framework of Papua New Guinea?

JB: It has been talked about as far back as 2012 and it has been raised again 2013 and talked about as a potential risk in 2014. Now we have the National Newspaper in Port Moresby which is foreign owned, talking about how it is necessary to have these new laws. So I guess it is different this time in that it is a member of the media raising the need for the law rather than the government. And that raises all sorts of conflict of interest questions about the ownership of the national newspaper and what their, real intent is in having that newspaper.

KH: Was there a particular incident that sparked or set off this comment, this latest comment from the Newspaper?

JB: Well like a lot of issues, there is criticism of the use of resources in Papua New Guinea including Forestry which is of interest to logging companies including those who set up the National Newspaper. But who knows whether it is that direct or if indeed it is that kind of conflict of interest that we are talking about. But certainly it is an ongoing discussion about the need for this policy, one that would seem to be outweighed by the need for more accountability in government rather than the people who put them there.