14 Office of the Attorney-General Suvavou House Suva March 2018 ONLINE SAFETY BILL 2018 –––––––– EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Bill and is only intended to indicate its general effect) 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Fijian Government in its commitment to ensure access to connectivity for all Fijians, has embarked on promoting a safe online culture and environment in hindsight of the recent increase of reports on harmful online behaviour such as cyberbullying, cyber stalking, Internet trolling and exposure to offensive or harmful content, particularly in respect of children. 1.2 The Online Safety Bill 2018 (‘Bill’) therefore seeks to promote online safety to increase awareness and education on responsible online behaviour and the use and provision of personal information. 1.3 The Bill provides a specific avenue which individuals, parents, legal guardians or representatives of such individuals can take to have their concerns dealt with. It also creates new offences to deter irresponsible and harmful online behaviour. 2.0 CLAUSES 2.1 Clause 1 of the Bill provides for the short title and commencement. If passed by Parliament, the new legislation will come into force on a date or dates appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette. 2.2 Clause 2 of the Bill provides for the interpretation of certain terms used throughout the new legislation. 2.3 Clause 3 of the Bill provides the objectives of the new legislation. 2.4 Clause 4 of the Bill provides the application of the new legislation to the whole of Fiji and to any offence or contravention of the new legislation committed outside Fiji. It further provides that the Bill applies to an electronic communication made on or after the commencement of the new legislation. 2.5 Clause 5 of the Bill stipulates that the new legislation will bind the State.