Solomon Islands moves to ban Facebook after government criticism on platform
- The Pacific nation’s leaders have been critiqued on social media over coronavirus stimulus funds and switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China
- The country of 650,000 would join China, Iran and North Korea in actively restricting the world’s biggest social networking platform
The government, led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, told Reuters it would issue a formal statement on its decision.
If the ban goes ahead, the Solomons would join only a handful of countries around the world, including China, Iran and North Korea, to actively restrict the world’s biggest social networking platform.
A Facebook spokeswoman said the company was contacting the Solomons government to discuss the issue.
As China opens embassy in Solomon Islands, feud over values fuels separatist bid
“This move will impact thousands of people in the Solomon Islands who use our services to connect and engage in important discussions across the Pacific,” the spokeswoman said.
Solomon’s Minister of Communication, Peter Shanel Agovaka, is one of the chief supporters of the ban, according to the Solomon Times, and has blamed “abusive language” and “character assassination” of government ministers, including the prime minister, being carried on the platform for the decision.
Facebook is a hugely popular forum for discussion in the Solomons with its population of around 650,000 spread out over a sprawling archipelago.
The government also uses Facebook to broadcast speeches by the prime minister and to disseminate health information during the pandemic.
In Solomon Islands, closer China ties prompt Malaita province to seek independence
Opposition leader Matthew Wale told Reuters he would oppose the move.
“Politicians are always worried about people having access to information and being able to freely express their views – that really cannot be grounds for proposing a ban,” Wale said.
“I absolutely do not see any justification whatsoever for such a ban.”
