By Delly Waigeno – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Key government stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector have come together to ensure a safer cyberspace for Papua New Guineans.
Whilst ICT and use of the Internet in particular are vital tools for development, the government wants to address the negative impacts.
The Cybercrime Policy was the first step. Stakeholders are now looking at an Internet Filtering Policy and the Government Internet and Email Policy concept.
The stakeholders gathered yesterday for a combined workshop on Internet Filtering System and Internet and Email Policy. It was an initiative of the Office of Censorship, the Department of Communication and Information and the Integrated Government Information System (IGIS).
Minister responsible, Jimmy Miringtoro, emphasised that ICT was indeed a powerful instrument in this day and age with countries around the world embracing it as a key enabler of economic and social growth.
Miringtoro said however that the government is mindful that the use of ICT’s inevitably introduces security concerns for individuals, businesses and the country as a whole.
Secretary for the Department of Communication and Information, Paulias Korni, said the protection of our societies was important.
Chief Censor, Steven Mala, said the Internet is such a powerful tool that our children are now even more exposed to illicit material right in their homes. It is a serious concern.
Therefore, the Censorship Office has considered Internet filtering, a significant idea and a way forward in addressing the growing issues of pornography, human trafficking, money laundering and other crime-related issues tied to the use of the Internet. Mala said the Internet filtering system is not designed to suppress the freedom of access to information and entertainment.
The stakeholder workshop is among a series of activities that are expected to promote IGIS as a step forward to integrate all systems and network for better management and protection of national information.
