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The Solomon Islands are a state in the Pacific Ocean east of New Guinea. It spans 6 large islands and several hundred smaller islands. About 650 thousand people live in the country. They are dedicated to agriculture, tourism, fishing. The country is now a favorite with water sports enthusiasts, especially divers, but no one will likely talk about it unless Facebook is banned.
It is true that the current Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, says that the ban is temporary. “Bullying on Facebook is very common, people are slandered with bogus questionnaires and their reputation, built over the years, is often destroyed in minutes,” said the prime minister in parliament.
AFP / Scanpix nuotr./Facebook
It is not yet clear what this ban will look like and how the government will ensure that it is enforced. It has already been heavily criticized, with opposition members saying that Facebook’s ban restricts personal freedom, especially freedom of expression. Yet despite the criticism, Sogavare has succeeded: the law was passed last week, although it is not yet clear how it will work technically. The people of the Solomon Islands continue to use the social network.
Interestingly, Sogavare argued that this step is necessary to protect children. But Civil Aviation Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka has revealed another reason: harassment on Facebook is often directed against members of the government. It was also the exchange of information on corruption and enraged the Prime Minister.
Other Pacific countries, such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa, are planning similar bans or are at least considering them.
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