The Papua New Guinea Government has launched a nationwide campaign to tighten control over online content, with internet providers now being directed to block and remove material classified as harmful or inappropriate.
The move, led by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), marks one of the country’s strongest steps yet towards regulating internet activity and enforcing digital content restrictions across the nation.
In a statement released in Port Moresby this week, NICTA confirmed that the enforcement process is now underway following directives issued under National Executive Council Decision No. 265 of 2023. The program will be implemented in stages and will apply to all licensed internet service providers operating within Papua New Guinea.
Internet providers have been instructed to comply with the directive under the terms of their licences issued through the NICT Act 2009. Companies were given 14 days to formally respond to compliance notices issued by the authority.
In addition, NICTA has ordered service providers, including wholesale operator PNG DataCo Limited, to begin removing restricted online material from their networks within a 30-day implementation period.
The government says the crackdown is aimed at protecting citizens, particularly young people, from exposure to harmful digital content. Authorities identified five key categories of concern that will be targeted during the first phase of enforcement.
These include pornography and sexually explicit material, violent and graphic content, hate speech and discriminatory material, substance abuse-related content, and illegal online activities.
According to NICTA, the operation is being carried out in partnership with the Office of Censorship and the Department of Information and Communication Technology under a coordinated whole-of-government approach led by ICT Minister Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr.
The authority stated that the latest measures strengthen existing restricted content regulations already in place, particularly in relation to online pornography and explicit material. The Office of Censorship will continue overseeing the classification and monitoring of prohibited content categories.
NICTA also warned that the directive extends beyond traditional internet providers and will include reseller licence holders and Low-Earth-Orbit satellite operators providing internet services in Papua New Guinea.
Companies that fail to comply with the directive within the specified timeframe could face enforcement action under Section 244 of the NICT Act, including the issuance of show-cause notices and possible regulatory penalties.
Meanwhile, the Office of Censorship is expected to submit monthly reports to NICTA outlining how restricted material is identified, reviewed and removed from networks during the implementation process.
At the conclusion of the initial 30-day rollout period, a Technical Working Group will compile a final report for Minister Tsiamalili detailing the progress of the nationwide internet content filtering program and compliance levels among service providers.