The Office of the Electoral Commissioner has temporarily suspended its live facebook coverage of the ballot counting process due to online abuse and cyber bullying by members of the Samoan public.
In a public notice issued at around 6:30pm on Monday afternoon, the OEC says excessive abuse and online violence towards officials had become a cause for concern, and a distraction to staff while officiating results of the 2021 General Election.
“The Facebook Live feed is a courtesy service to inform members of the public, however the language used such as hate speech and online violence towards officials while doing their job is now a cause for concern…”
The OEC apologised to its online followers who are otherwise courteous in their interactions with this page.
Notice by OEC:
🚫E faamalulu atu i le mamalu o le au maimoa mai I le tatou Facebook Live, ua taofia nei le tatou auaunaga ofo fua atu o le faasalalau o le galuega o lo’o fa’atino nei I le upega tafa’ilagi a le OEC. Talu ai o le matuia o fa’amatalaga o lafoai mai I taimi o tatou Fa’asalalauga ua ae ai se manatu e Fa’agata le tatou live mo le taimi nei ae sei fa’aauau pea le galuega taua a le tatou ofisa ma le mamalu o va’ava’ai Palota, malu o le Malo faapea ma isi o lo’o fa’atinoina le galuega e Fa’amaonia aloaia ai faitauga o le Faiga Palota Aoao 2021.
Ma le faaaloalo lava.
