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The Leader of Opposition, Ishmael Kalsakau said Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should be held accountable for allowing fake IDs on social media during the parliamentary debate on the Bill for the Harmful Digital Communication (Amendment) Act. Mr. Kalsakau said that service providers should face penalties if they permit accounts that spread misinformation or defame elected officials. Addressing the Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat whose office is responsible for the government’s digital communications, the Opposition Leader urged that his proposal be considered for inclusion in future legislative bill. He said many MPs have raised concerns about fake IDs sharing information that damages their reputation. “Most of the time fake IDs are posting information and service providers are getting away with it. When it is very hard to locate fake IDs, why not penalize providers or those who control Facebook pages?” he said. PM Napat acknowledged that it is challenging to track individuals using fake IDs but noted the validity of the concern raised. The Bill for the Harmful Digital Communications (Amendment) Act aims to enhance online safety and governance for school children in Vanuatu. It seeks to establish control mechanisms that help school children navigate cyberspace and online media safely, protecting them from potential threats. When introducing the bill, PM Napat said it will enable schools with internet access to develop policies to ensure that school children aged 16 and below use digital platforms responsibly, particularly avoiding harmful sites such as pornography. He said the amendment applies only to students while they are on school premises. The Minister of Education, Simil Johnson, suggested that the government should also consider addressing issues related to digital use outside of school. MP for TAFEA Outer Islands, Tomker Netvunei, said addressing the harmful digital use by children within school will not be effective when they can still access those sites outside of school. He suggested that a complete ban might be a more effective solution.
