META removes controversial accounts

META has shut down the Facebook accounts of Alexandra Forwood and Ratu Ilaisa Sema as authorities intensify efforts to combat misinformation ahead of the 2026 General Election.

Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya confirmed the development during an interview today while urging Fijians to fact-check information shared online.

“Stick to facts,” Ms Tabuya said.

“It is important to continue to fact-check any news or any information that you come across.”

She said the removal of the accounts demonstrated the proper process for dealing with complaints about misinformation.

“Pages like Ratu Ilaisa Sema as well as Alexandra Forwood that have been shut down by META, that is the proper process to follow if you have a complaint about fake news being circulated by individuals,” Ms Tabuya said.

She urged members of the public to report concerns to the Online Safety Commission and the Cybercrime Unit of the Fiji Police Force.

“Please register that complaint with the Online Safety Commission as well as the Cybercrime Unit of the Fiji Police Force and they have been vigilant in their work and I congratulate them and I thank them for the speed and efficiency in the way that they work.”

Ms Tabuya warned that spreading misinformation could cause serious personal harm.

“But it's important to know that when you spread misinformation or you spread untruths you're not only damaging the reputation of a person, you're also hurting them or harming them personally as well,” she said.

“There's a lot of mental health issues that comes with it and we must be very mindful, especially as we're giving up to the general elections, that we give every candidate, no matter which side of the aisle, whether we're government or opposition or not in Parliament, everyone deserves a fair shot to be a candidate in the elections and we must respect that by circulating facts and truth.”

Ms Tabuya also issued a warning to individuals using fake online identities.

“My warning to those that try to create fake accounts or have fake aliases, you will be stopped and the law will come after you,” she said.

“So choose wisely and really I discourage you from doing so because you are only spreading information that is not right and it's not true and not factual, which only is intended to cause harm and not good for our nation.”