ForgottenFlux on Nostr: >Papua New Guinea's government has shut down social media platform Facebook, in what ...

>Papua New Guinea's government has shut down social media platform Facebook, in what it describes as a "test" to mitigate hate speech, misinformation, pornography and "other detrimental content".
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>The test, conducted under the country's anti-terrorism laws, began on Monday morning and has extended into Tuesday.
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>Facebook users in the country have been unable to log-in to the platform and it is unclear how long the ban will go on for.
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>The government's move was not flagged ahead of the "test" on Monday — a move opposition MPs and media leaders have described as "tyranny" and an "abuse of human rights".

>Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform in the country, with an estimated 1.3 million users, or about half of the country's estimated 2.6 million internet users.

>The platform is a critical tool for public discourse in the country, with many highly active forums used to discuss PNG politics and social issues.
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>Yet, the government has been highly critical of Facebook with the platform often blamed for helping spread misinformation, particularly in light of a recent spate of tribal killings in the country.