Computers & internet

Papua New Guinea 'Test' Blocks Facebook

MAR 25 2025·Updated MAR 26 2025

Story

Above: Logo of Facebook. Image credit: Jakub Porzycki/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Facts

The Papua New Guinea government shut down Facebook on Monday as part of a social media regulation test. The social media platform was inaccessible to its estimated 1.3M users, about half of the country's 2.6M internet users.
ABC
fijivillage
The government said the test is aimed at combating "hate speech, misinformation, pornography, and other harmful content," adding it wasn't attempting to suppress free speech.
fijivillage
Papua New Guinea Today
The shutdown primarily affected mobile phone users, while desktop access remained largely unaffected. The exact duration of the test is unclear.
ABC
Papua New Guinea Today
Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr. oversaw the test under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2024, collaborating with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA).
RNZ
Papua New Guinea Today
However, NICTA Chief Executive Officer Kila Gulo-Vui stated that the authority was neither consulted nor involved in the testing.
RNZ
The Straits Times
Facebook is Papua New Guinea's most popular social media platform, and many active forums use it for public discourse on politics and social issues in the country.
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
ABC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The government's action is necessary to protect citizens from harmful online content, including fake news, hate speech, and exploitation. The measure ensures responsible social media usage while maintaining public safety and national stability.

Papua New Guinea Today

Carnegiecouncil

Narrative B

In a chilling display of digital authoritarianism, Papua New Guinea's sudden Facebook blackout reveals a government systematically dismantling democratic safeguards, using "national security" as a pretext to control public discourse and suppress dissent under the guise of technological testing.

RNZ

ABC