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New Censorship policy targets online content
Participants and stakeholders at the two-day workshop on censorship policy and online content regulation, bringing together representatives from government agencies, NICTA, the media, churches and other organisations to discuss the implementation and implications of censorship policy in Papua New Guinea (NBC News)
Papua New Guinea's proposed National Censorship Policy III (2027–2031) will address the growing challenges of regulating harmful online content as the use of digital platforms continues to increase.
The policy was discussed during a two-day Momase and Highlands Regional Consultative Workshop held at Lae International Hotel on November 11 and 12.
Chief Censor Jim Abani said the new policy would move beyond traditional censorship and respond to changes in how people access, produce and distribute information through the internet.
Abani said the Censorship Office was working towards a framework that would address online content, including material that could expose children and young people to harmful information.
He revealed that more than 33,000 websites containing harmful content had been submitted to the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), while more than 200,000 websites had been listed as blocked.
The role of NICTA in supporting the proposed censorship framework was also discussed during the workshop.
NICTA's presentation highlighted the regulatory processes involved in restricting access to harmful websites and the importance of addressing online content through established legal and regulatory mechanisms.
The discussions also considered the challenges of internet access and the growing availability of online services, which have increased the need for an updated approach to censorship.
The proposed policy recognises that censorship can no longer focus only on traditional materials such as films, publications and other physical content, but must also consider material distributed through digital platforms.
The consultation brought together stakeholders from the Momase and Highlands regions to provide input into the proposed policy before it guides the country's censorship framework for 2027 to 2031.
The policy is expected to provide direction on how Papua New Guinea responds to harmful content while addressing the challenges created by changes in technology and online communication.