Marape: No shutdown, there must be accountability in the use of Facebook

The Prime Minister James Marape has brushed aside public claims stating that his government will not impose shutdown on Facebook in the country.

Marape said his government understands very well that Facebook is a good platform of communication on issues concerning the country, marketing, and other important matters.

He said the issue on Facebook shutdown which sparked the general public, especially students raise concerns will be clarified.

"I asked the National Security Advisory Council to meet . They're possibly meeting to give me a briefing today as to what happened in the Facebook issue," Marape said.

Marape said Facebook has also been a place of crime, as well as a place of social communication and business transactions.

"I, for one, don't stand for shutting down Facebook." Marape said.

Prime Minister said the platform must be protected to ensure there is accountability in the use of it.

"None of you can ignore the fact that pornography is being accessed by children through the used if Facebook. As parents, is it right? I ask every parent across the country, do you want your children to view pornography?

"Not to mention other atrocities that are committed based on platform dissemination that is happening on Facebook. So as a country, we must also make accountable use of Facebook.

"I think the test that was run was to see how we could, without suppressing right of communication, how control can be made to shut down pornographic sites, shutting down sites that are not good for the country, without tampering on people's right to free speech.

"I just want to impress on everyone, there must be maturity in this conversation," Marape said.