Transcript
In Lauli'i village, to the East of Samoa's capital Apia, locals have taken online policing into their own hands.
Paramount chief, Fuamatu Samoa Oloaga Asuelu, says it started when one of the village chiefs was abused on Facebook.
Fuamatu Samoa told the Samoa Observer the comments were brought before the village council.
There, in an unusual move for Samoa, the online discourse was met with punishment.
Five families found responsible for the abuse were ordered to pay around $US2,000 each.
Experts say the moves will set a precedent for other villages in Samoa worried about online abuse.
Fesola'i Aleni Sofara is a law lecturer at the National University of Samoa.
"Doing a lawsuit in a civil claim costs money, and time-consuming, and might as well do it in this forum, where by the village councils will impose penalties on those families who are confirmed, simply because their names are on the Facebook, and their comments."
He says says other villages have imposed similar bans in recent weeks, as abuse via Facebook increases in the country.
Earlier this month, Samoa's internet regulator said Pacific Island governments should pressure Facebook to crack down on fake news.
But Fesola'i says people in Samoa aren't blaming the company, only how it's being used, hence the fines on individuals.
"It's not that bad to put your opinion. But then, to do and to make and abuse that belittles the village council. And, also, defaming someone. Well, I think the penality is justified."
Glenn Finau, a PhD scholar at the University of New South Wales who specialises in cybercrime regulation, says the fines won't solve the problem.
"It's not going to be a very feasible solution in the long run to curb what these people are actually trying to stop, which is criticism."
Mr Finau says at the heart of the issue is a mismatch between traditional Samoan society and encroaching Western online platforms like Facebook.
"Previously, traditionally, it was like, you couldn't question the chief, but now because people what people are seeing is happening overseas, they're like, well yeah we can question the chief, we can call him out if he's done something wrong."
Despite the fines in Lauli'i village, it's unclear how they will be enforced, given that four of the five families live overseas.
They are due to be paid by January 14.
Fuamatu Samoa, the paramount chief, says his village will take action against anyone abusing social media.
