Crime

Online hate speech a major concern: Police

March 19, 2019 3:53 pm

Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho

Concerns have been raised about hate speech posts that’s surfaced on social media following the Christchurch terror attack in New Zealand.

Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho says they have not received any official reports against any social media posting however, they’re going to take strict actions to put an end to this.

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He says many people that are posting, commenting, sharing and supporting such hate posts shows they’re not fully aware of what the consequences are.

He says the Police Force is taking this issue very seriously.

“I’ve directed my Chief Investigator in Intelligence and my Director for CID that they need to look at the hate speech that has been propagated on social media and to start their investigations immediately and we need to take these people to task to put a stop to this type of unwarranted comments. We have to deal with the issue. We can’t allow this type of hate speech and rhetoric to continue.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is urging Fijians to speak up against racism and hatred.

He says those that choose to remain silent will be an injustice to the victims of the terrorist act in New Zealand.

His Australian counterpart Scott Morrison shares a similar view.

He has urged global leaders to crack down on social media companies that broadcast terrorist attacks in the wake of the tragedy.

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is also urging social media giants to wake up to themselves and police platforms much more closely after the mosque massacre.