Papua New Guinea shuts down Facebook in test to stop ‘pornography, misinformation, hate speech’
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-25/facebook-shut-down-in-papua-new-guinea-in-test/105092564?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link
37 comments
Go for it, Papua New Guinea. Wise decision.
I can understand the last 2 but porn? I don’t think I’ve seen that on Facebook. What’s going on down there 🤔
Oof, I’m torn.
I see how FB (and other social media platforms) are ruining social fabric by letting propaganda and misinformation grow rampant in the name of free speech, while deploying algorithms that push people towards right-wing content, hateful content and toxic ontent.
On the other hand, China too is banning FB. Do we really want our governments to decide which corporation is bad or good? Based on which criteria and data? How do we keep lobbyist, lawmakers and public servants from being swayed in favour of dangerous corporations?
jeez. a conundrum. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Smart. Should probably shut down instagram too.
Well done Papua. Now let’s talk about X.
I hate the ‘anti-free speech’ argument. Most western countries regulate media (eg FCC) on the radio, TV, and newspapers to stop the spread of false information and propaganda.
Right now, the only people regulating social media are the billionaires who own it.
Should be commonplace outside the US.
Actually not a bad idea 🤔
Porn on Facebook??
There’s porn on Facebook? How do I find it?
Do Canada now, but let us keep Messenger?
I’m glad people are coming around. Ban em all. Worse than heroin.
FUCK YES
They’ve got some sense.
Good now do it here. Also that country ranks number one for attempts to google cp…
Do Twitter next!
Pornography? Hey, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
One day I hope fb and insta are banned everywhere. They have gotten very insidious. Touts of communication have been usurped by their need to control and poison young people.
Time for everyone to cancel fb!
Cool
Can we do it here????? (Murica…)
I’m in country and there’s more to it than that
One of these is not like the others hmm
Nice! The New Guineas and old ones sound like smart people
Do Roy and HG know? This is gonna ruin the rugby league
Interesting development. the timing is particularly notable could be a factor here.
Interesting development. it signals a potential change in direction could be a factor here.
I think the basic premise is right, I think every country needs to protect its own society from foreign meddling by firewalling its internet.
I also think this, on its own, will almost inevitably lead to excessive censorship and authoritarian tendencies in the country.
Probably the best solution would be a strictly controlled and censored internet and a free and vibrant, probably state subsidized, print media.
Do people really not realise why they have done this?
The genocide in Papua New Guinea against tribes that have high amounts of copper under their native lands is well documented and on the verge of becoming wide spread knowledge.
Does it really seems good that a country actively committing genocide should shut down one channel of the public to communicate and spread information about said genocide?
Honestly wonderful decision!
These sites are all now so toxic in general and just misinformation machines.
Skirting any regulation and ethical responsibilities also a HUGE issue for sure.
The “all or nothing” approach definitely sends a message, and also escalates the conversation.
“The test, conducted under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, began on Monday morning and has extended into Tuesday.
“We are not attempting to suppress free speech or restrict our citizens from expressing their viewpoints,” Mr Tsiamalili said.
“However, the unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable.”
Theres a lot of irresponsible brain rot out there…
We’ve come a long way from the Arab spring where a Gov’t shutdown of FB escalated protest in Tunisia,.. and kicked off a string of revolts.
Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, … Keep going!
Good. Now everyone else. And then X.
The right move. Misinformation is what Facebook exists for now, its only purpose is to keep people uninformed. Every single time I go home my parents have a new baseless, insane gripe with a government policy that literally doesn’t exist. Facebook is always the source.
This is the way!
Thats smart move. Hopefully others follow. No one miss a shit without suckerberg.
Ban all social media, then allow back only those companies who demonstrably commit resources to fact-checking, content-checking and eliminating hate-speech.
Suddenly they will magically find that they **do** in fact have the resources!
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