Online abuse warning issued amid Miss Fiji pageant controversy

The Online Safety Commission has issued a public advisory urging people to exercise caution when posting or sharing content online, following concerns over online commentary linked to the Miss Fiji Pageant.

In a statement, the commission said it had noted growing public concern surrounding decisions related to the pageant and reminded users to be mindful of how frustrations or disagreements were expressed on social media.

The commission acknowledged that members of the public may feel disturbed or upset by decisions made by officials or contestants but warned against engaging in online interactions or posting content that could cause serious emotional distress to others.

It said such actions could amount to offences under the Online Safety Act 2018, which establishes the commission and outlines penalties for harmful electronic communications.

Under Section 24 of the Act, “Causing Harm by Posting Electronic Communication”, a person convicted may face up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

The commission said courts may consider several factors when determining whether an electronic communication has caused harm, including the severity of the language, images or videos used, how widely the content was circulated, and the context in which it appeared.

The Online Safety Commission urged social media users to pause and think before posting comments, sharing content, or circulating audio or video recordings online.

It said its message to the public was simple: think carefully before clicking post, share or send.