Is it the intent of those spreading false information and making unfounded claims to tear this nation apart by planting seeds of division? This is what it sounds like.

We are faced with a form of terrorism that is being used by people, mostly from overseas, to constantly defame politicians, journalists, civil servants, laws, policies, government offices and even ordinary citizens by claiming it is their freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a right that must be valued and not an excuse to make unfounded allegations. This freedom must never be used to defame or inflict physical harm.

In the past week, a social media blogger from New Zealand, Fiu Situta Lomitusi, known as “Tama o le Ele‘ele, was arrested and charged. He has said things which have not been true and at times suggested acts of violence. What do people like him get out of manufacturing fake information? He is not the only one who does that. There are others like him, sitting in the comfort of their chairs in a foreign country, and purporting lies that most take to heart and believe. Consumers of such information are gullible enough to believe the hogwash. It is this gullibility that such people take advantage of. This language of hate from overseas-based social media bloggers and outlets continues to divide Samoans.

The police have stepped up their policing of such messages. While nothing can be done to those in foreign countries but once they are in Samoa, they come under the law of this nation. According to Section 219 of the Crimes Act, harassment using electronic devices, including cyberbullying, carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The police issued a strong reminder to the public that Samoa has laws in place to protect individuals and the dignity of the nation from false and defamatory statements. “To the citizens of the nation, there are laws in place to protect the dignity of the nation concerning criminal liability or defamation. Right now, there are laws in place to protect individuals from spreading rumours and making defamatory statements against citizens and ruining their reputations,” said Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo.

He added that there have been similar cases in the past involving individuals overseas who run online blogs or media programs. “These individuals have complaints against them. These complaints are the main core of the investigation.”

Misinformation or deliberately shared wrong information poses a number of dangers to a democratic society. It poses a direct threat to the upcoming general elections. Democracy thrives on the active and honest participation of citizens, and misinformation threatens its success by blurring or discouraging the best course of action for voters and distorting perceptions of political opponents. It is a danger to a free and fair election, leading to a government that may not be right for the people.

It decreases the chances that people vote in their real interests. A democracy relies on votes; the entire apparatus of government may lose legitimacy as a result of too many voters being fooled into supporting candidates, parties, or policies that do not benefit them. Political participation can be reduced by clouding the truth and sowing distrust in the infrastructure of government and political actors. One channel through which misinformation could do this is by distorting perceptions of procedural fairness in how the government and elections work.

If misinformation is used to attack political opponents, it may increase political hostility and extremism. It will affect the peace in this nation. That is something we do not need. It threatens national security. If some people have deliberately chosen to falsely accuse others of serious crimes or threaten physical harm, then they must be held accountable.

Freedom comes with responsibility.