Embargoed until:
EST 17:00 / GMT 22:00 14 November 2022
AEDT 09:00 / FJT 10:00 15 November 2022

Regulators collaborate through new global network to counter online
harm

Regulators from Australia, Fiji, Ireland and the United Kingdom are joining forces to
encourage and coordinate global efforts to make the online world a safer place.

The new Global Online Safety Regulators Network will be formally launched at the Family
Online Safety Institute Conference in Washington DC today.

The Network is a collaboration between the first movers in online safety regulation –
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Fiji’s Online Safety Commission and Ofcom in the UK –
with support from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The Network is intended to pave the way for a coherent international approach to online
safety regulation, by enabling new online safety regulators to share information, experience
and best practices. Members will share a commitment to act independently of commercial
and political influence, as well as to human rights, democracy and the rule of law

The Network is being set up at a time of rapid evolution in the global digital landscape and a
greater focus on online safety issues from governments, industry and citizens alike. This
includes recent legislative reforms like Australia’s Online Safety Act 2021, Fiji’s Online
Safety Act 2018, the UK’s Online Safety Bill, Ireland’s Online Safety and Media Regulation
Bill 2022 and the European Union’s Digital Services Act, as well as online safety reform work
underway in Canada, New Zealand and Singapore.

Senior representatives from the four founders of the Network said that with a number of
global online safety regulators now being established around the world, the time is right to
link up, learn from each other, and look at new ways of working together to counter a range
of online harms.

Quotes attributable to Network founders 

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: 
“I’ve always believed the future of effective online safety regulation would involve a network
of global regulators working together to make the online world a safer place for everyone.
Today’s announcement is the first step in making that future a reality.

“In 2015, we were the world’s only online safety regulator. Today, I’m happy to report that
this is no longer the case and online safety regulators are starting to pop up all over the
globe, backed by new laws ensuring providers of digital services are held to account.

“Our new Network will also help to avoid the risk of a “global splinternet” of inconsistent
regulation by setting out a clearer and more consistent international framework for industry
to follow.”
Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive, Ofcom, UK:
“Global companies don’t consider borders as barriers to their business models, and neither
should we when it comes to regulating them. If we’re going to help everyone from Melbourne
to Manchester enjoy a safer life online, countries need to collaborate and share their
experience and expertise. That’s why we’ve launched this Network.

“Ofcom has already shown that regulation can make a difference, after just one year of
oversight of UK video sites like TikTok, Snapchat and Twitch. We’re looking forward to
extending these powers so we can protect more people from serious harm while continuing
to champion the great things about being online. Strong global cooperation and consistency
will be key to that.”

Mary Motofaga, A/g Commissioner, Online Safety Commission, Fiji:
“For a Pacific country as geographically remote and culturally rich as Fiji, the Global Online
Safety Regulators Network offers a great opportunity for members to share information,
discuss and address challenges such as cross-border complaints and acknowledging
cultural diversity.

“Collaboration with our international stakeholders is crucial to achieving success because
the online space does not have any boundaries, and we are stronger together than apart.
“The Fijian Online Safety Commission looks forward to the launch of the Global Online
Safety Regulators Network as we work together to promote an inclusive and safe online
culture for all.”

Celene Craig, Chief Executive Officer, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland:
“The BAI has consistently pursued co-operation and partnership as tools in effective and
practical regulation. The development of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network is the
embodiment of this approach and the Network is committed to bringing together like-minded
independent regulators who are working together to foster best practice, share experiences
and expertise and co-ordinate regulatory approaches in the pursuit of a safe and equitable
online environment.

“While the BAI is not a regulator in online safety, it has contributed to this Network through
the online safety work it has undertaken regarding the transposition of the Audiovisual Media
Services Directive and the development of Ireland’s online safety and media regulation
regime. This work allows the BAI to have observer status in the Network.

“Online safety regulation in Ireland will soon come under the remit of a new body, Coimisiún
na Meán (the Media Commission) once the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is
enacted into law. We hope that the preparatory work the BAI has undertaken in the
development of this Network and the valuable interactions with regulators operating in the
online safety space will assist our specialist online safety colleagues when the work of
Coimisiún na Meán commences next year.”

Media contacts 
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: media@esafety.gov.au or +61 439 519 684
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Joanne Ahern, joanne@dhr.ie or +353 87 9881837
Ofcom, United Kingdom: media.office@ofcom.org.uk or +44 300 123 1795.
Online Safety Commission, Fiji: info@osc.com.fj or +679 9906652

The post Global Online Safety Regulators Network Media Release appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The post Fiji and Australia Sharing Insights appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The one day seminar was officially opened by Fiji Police Force Director SSP Serupepeli Neiko and helped participants understand the safety tools available for agencies to better cater for their respective citizens.

Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform and Fijians are no stranger to using the application daily. The platform helps us connect with family and friends around the world, communicate with loved ones about our daily activities and even share our thoughts on hot topics such as politics, education and more. The recent pandemic highlighted how technology, especially social media apps have become an integral part of our everyday lives.

It is important to be aware of simple security checks and privacy check up that you as a social media user can use to make sure that you are safe online. Although there is no 100% safeguard to the ills of being online, setting up important safety checks can help.

Some routine tips to keep in mind include:

• Changing your passwords to your accounts and not sharing them with anyone;
• Log off your social media account when you finish using is; and
• Being cautious of adding friends or following people you may not know offline.

Photo Credit: Fiji Police Force

The post Pacific Law Enforcement Training appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The post Safer Internet Day 2021 appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

Last month, the OSC along with delegates from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu attended an online safety workshop hosted by Australia’s Office of the eSafety Commissioner and New Zealand’s Netsafe NZ to glean from the expertise and experiences of our neighboring countries. The workshop included learning Australia’s approach to tackling online bullying, image based abuse and other prohibited content from representatives from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, the Australian Federal Police and their Attorney-General’s Department.

With the support of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and their Cyber Cooperation Program, attending the workshop coincided with being an attendee at the 2019 eSafety Conference where global participants shared great insights into online safety practices and ways to look forward to develop the “online world we want”, as rightfully themed.

Photo Credit: DFAT Australia

The post Pacific Online Safety Workshop appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The Commission visited FNU campuses in the central, western and eastern divisions. During the visitation students had the opportunity to discuss their concerns regarding online safety, learn more about the Commission and develop ideas around maintaining safe online behaviors among their peers.

The space provided students, staff and the OSC a change to engage in dialogue on different online trends they noticed on their campus. This included what some considered a rise in online bullying, the need for greater awareness on how to be safe online, developing context definitions of online abuse, positive use of online platforms.

The awareness program brought clarity to the role of the Commission and developed insight into how students from one of Fiji’s leading universities relate to online safety.

The post FNU Online Safety Outreach appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

In recent years, SAAC has expanded the scope of its week long program to include social topics such as domestic violence, healthy lifestyles, and internet safety.

This year, the Commission partnered with SAAC to raise awareness for online safety. The theme for IDADAIT 2019 was “Healthy child, Proactive family, Safer school, Better Fiji”. There was a program developed for schools to participate in each day of the week to address the different social topics. The program included assigning Thursday as the day for “Internet and Social Media Awareness”.

On the assigned day, the Commission and various stakeholders went to high schools around the central division to share insight on different ways students can be safe online. This included giving short speeches, making presentations and having one on one conversations with students and teachers.

The awareness program provided a space for the Commission to engage with students, talk about online safety and promote proactive steps towards creating a safer online community for all Fijians.

The post IDADAIT 2019 appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.

The Commission was able to participate in the panel discussion about transformative social media. Panelists talked about how social media has shifted the power from institutions to the people, how it can affect the way businesses conduct their marketing strategies and also how social media should be a place for building communities rather than tearing them down.

The two day conference provided a space for executives to collaborate, innovate and network with other counter parts to inspire a dialogue of how businesses, state institutions, non governmental organizations, and civil society organizations can transform Fiji from the business perspective.

The post TOPEX 2019 appeared first on Online Safety Commission Fiji.