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The Parliament has passed a significant amendment to the Harmful Digital Communications Act, strengthening controls over how students under 16 use the internet, particularly within school environments. Introduced by the Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat, the amendment aims to ensure that the internet serves as a safe and educational tool for young people. He said the law is designed to protect children from harmful online content and promote responsible digital engagement. Napat said the primary goal of the legislation is to require schools to establish clear internet policies and regulate online activity on school grounds. “It is very difficult to control what students do when they are outside school grounds,” he said. “But within schools, we must ensure that the internet serves educational purposes only.” Under the new law, schools must restrict access to pornographic and inappropriate materials. Internet service providers (ISPs) will also be legally required to comply with these measures to help maintain a healthy online environment for students. PM Napat also addressed growing concerns about students’ use of social media platforms such as TikTok, both inside and outside school. “These platforms must have restrictions,” he said. “The internet should be a tool for learning, not a pathway to harm.” The Minister of Education, Simil Johnson, suggested that the government should also consider addressing issues related to digital use outside of school. Leader of the Opposition Ishmael Kalsakau confirmed that the Opposition supported the bill, calling for even tougher penalties for ISPs that fail to comply. “We must ensure strong accountability from those managing internet services,” he said. MP for Efate Rural, Fred Samuel, speaking strongly in favor of the amendment, highlighted both the potential and the dangers of the internet for young learners. “Many initiatives to control internet use in schools have failed in the past,” he said. “This amendment is an important step to ensure that schools and stakeholders set clear policies to guide students toward positive use.” He added that the internet can play a defining role in a student’s future — whether it leads to success or failure depends largely on how it is used. MP for Malekula Constituency, Micah Olivier, echoed this view, acknowledging the challenge of monitoring online behavior outside of school. “Schools can only manage what happens within their boundaries,” he said. “Once students leave, it becomes much harder to monitor.” The government described the amendment as a crucial move toward ensuring that the internet supports learning rather than undermines it — a key step in protecting Vanuatu’s young people from the growing risks of the digital world. The bill was passed with 45 votes in favor.
