Communications

Minister Samuel Basil issued the directives to Department of Information and Communications and the National Information Communications Technology Authority on Monday in the wake of United States Senate and Class Action Court hearings to ascertain whether Facebook Inc failed to protect privacy of Facebook users in United States and United Kingdom.

Personal data, chats, pictures, contact details of Papua New Guinea Facebook users are on the same Facebook Inc. database.

This follows today’s realignment in ministerial portfolio allocations by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

The changes in portfolios will strengthen the National Government’s focus on key growth sectors that will have a direct impact on business development and community advancement.

"Minister Basil will be responsible for the energy and communications sectors that are crucial for growing a modern economy,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.

Provincial police commander Silas Wayagure informed PNG Loop this is one major area which he sees as an impediment after assuming  office in the Gulf Province.

Wayagure says he will review existing reporting and communication tools in place by carrying out an audit which will also highlight areas he will need to work on.

He  expounds  that currently there is a very slow and at some remote places non-existent communication aids in place.