[Photo: FILE]

Police are warning TikTok users to think twice before engaging in vulgar online battles.

Authorities have already arrested one person and are searching for others over allegedly obscene language and gestures.

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has raised alarm over the behaviour some Fijians—particularly iTaukei users—display during TikTok live battles.

He says this online activity raises serious concerns about respect, discipline, and iTaukei community values.

The Police Chief is urging young people to be mindful of what they say and display online, warning that such behaviour can have legal consequences.

“I believe it is time for us, as iTaukei, to wake up and pay attention to what is happening. Certain words are being used, and some individuals are exposing their bodies online, possibly because they are earning money from these activities.”

Tudravu is calling on communities, particularly village leaders, to take responsibility by speaking out rather than turning a blind eye.

“We brought in a woman, and the age she is in, and to be on that platform, doing whatever she was doing, is very concerning. She was brought in from a village, and I believe the villagers themselves should be concerned and question such behavior.”

ACP Loraini Seru says police are taking online abuse seriously and officers have already made arrests and are pursuing other individuals.

“It’s quite concerning and alarming as well for the Fiji Police to see how toxic, to some extent, people can go in abusing internet access and online platforms. We are not taking that lightly. We have arrested people and recently we have one in our custody and we are looking for the others.”

Police are urging social media users to act responsibly, warning that online platforms do not exempt them from legal accountability.