{"id":6149,"date":"2021-05-13T17:50:27","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T04:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talamua.com\/?p=6149"},"modified":"2021-05-13T17:50:27","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T04:50:27","slug":"internet-service-providers-stand-against-government-plans-to-block-facebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talamua.com\/?p=6149","title":{"rendered":"Internet Service Providers Stand Against Government Plans to Block Facebook"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Regulator

The Regulator, Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

By Lagi Keresoma<\/p>\n

APIA, SAMOA – 13 MAY 2021:<\/strong> The two major internet service providers Vodafone Samoa Ltd. and Digicel Samoa Ltd. are standing by their customers’ rights of communication against the Government\u2019s plans to close the social media for two weeks until the elections are over.<\/p>\n

The Caretaker Government decided against the idea yesterday.<\/p>\n

In a combined letter to the Regulator dated 8 May 2021, the Vodafone Chief Executive Officer, Nofoasaefa Satish Kumar Sharma and Digicel Chairman\/CEO, Pepe Christian Fruean voiced their concerns and stance on the issue.<\/p>\n

Both were present with representatives of the other local Telco companies in a meeting called by the Special Task Force on Cyber Security last Friday, 7 May where Government\u2019s intention was made known.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe industries are extremely concerned about the implication of such a substantial directive on licensed networks and operators, the telecommunication and people of Samoa alike,\u201d stated the letter.<\/p>\n

The letter also referred to a \u201cDraft Meeting Report\u201d prepared by the Regulator, Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell which had a statement that \u201cthe life of a person cannot be measured in monetary terms or any other terms.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Vodafones

Vodafone Samoa’s Chief Executive Officer, Nofoasaefa Satish Kumar Sharma.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The report further says \u201cWhile the stakes are high, making the right decision in protecting the country and members of the public is the most important responsibility of everyone including the private and public organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both CEO\u2019s pointed to the impact of such actions not only on the rights of communication of customers but their businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the greatest respect, we consider this statement to be likely to inflame what is already a very sensitive situation. This is because it seems to suggest the proposed blocking of social media would be undertaken whatever the cost and regardless of the requirements of the existing legal framework.\u201d<\/p>\n

They raised legal issues that needed to be addressed before a decision was made.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also very concerned that, as any licensed network operators, implementing the proposed \u201cblock\u201d may themselves face severe legal consequences if the terms of the proposed intervention are not properly defined and supported by a clear legal authority.\u201d<\/p>\n

They also noted that in the Draft Meeting Report, made reference to other countries such as New Zealand and Uganda who had blocked social media during elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose references appear to me incorrect and misleading,\u201d the CEOS stated.<\/p>\n

\"Pepe

Digicel Chairman\/CEO, Pepe Christian Fruean.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Both CEO\u2019s also indicated that as licensed service providers, it is important to point out that they have a duty both to their businesses and customers, to ensure any actions they undertake are consistent with and bound by the law of Samoa.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is particularly important in this case where such a drastic and unprecedented action has been contemplated and the fundamental rights of our customers to communicate with each other will be adversely affected.\u201d<\/p>\n

No \u201con and off\u201d switch to turn off social media platform
\n<\/strong>\u201cThere is no \u201cOn and Off\u201d switch at any operator network to turn any social media platform on and off,\u201d said Regulator Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell.<\/p>\n

She said even if social media platforms are blocked, people can still use others to access Facebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Regulator is responsible and has a mandate for managing competition in the telecommunications industry, but is also responsible for consumers and therefore any decision on blocking social media platforms has to have a balance,\u201d she told Talamua<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Asked to elaborate on \u201cbalance\u201d, she said the Regulator has to consider several things such as:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The needs of the people (consumers) using social media platforms to connect with parents and children overseas;<\/li>\n
  • Security of the nation by threats to kill;<\/li>\n
  • The technical expertise to carry out a total ban on social media platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Caretaker Government follow advice against blocking social media
    \n<\/strong>The Caretaker Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told Radio Polynesia yesterday the decision not to block facebook and social media as intended.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe decided not to close it as there are other ways to correct it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

    As for the Government’s change of mind, he said \u201cwe rely on recommendations and advice before we make any decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    By Lagi Keresoma APIA, SAMOA – 13 MAY 2021: The two major internet service providers Vodafone Samoa Ltd. and Digicel Samoa Ltd. are standing by their customers’ rights of communication against the Government\u2019s plans to close the social media for two weeks until the elections are over. The Caretaker Government decided against the idea yesterday. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6150,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[177,194],"tags":[269,270],"class_list":["post-6149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-technology","tag-blocking-facebook","tag-social-media-ban"],"yoast_head":"\nInternet Service Providers Stand Against Government Plans to Block Facebook - Talamua Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/talamua.com\/?p=6149\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Internet Service Providers Stand Against Government Plans to Block Facebook - Talamua Online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Lagi Keresoma APIA, SAMOA – 13 MAY 2021: The two major internet service providers Vodafone Samoa Ltd. and Digicel Samoa Ltd. are standing by their customers’ rights of communication against the Government\u2019s plans to close the social media for two weeks until the elections are over. 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