Manila: A group of journalists have expressed alarm over the inclusion of libel among punishable acts under the newly approved law governing cyberspace.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), in a statement, said the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 passed last week threatens not only the media sector but the general public as well “who has access to a computer and the internet.”
The Philippines passed the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 after President Benigno Aquino affixed his signature on the measure last week. Senator Edgardo Angara, the chief proponent of the new law, said the law is mainly geared at addressing cybercrimes perpetrated by foreign nationals who have previously taken advantage of the loopholes in the country’s regulations to conduct their nefarious activities in the country.
“The passage of the cybercrime bill is timely especially after the recent arrest of an estimated 400 foreign nationals involved in cybercrime which defrauded victims of millions per day,” explained Angara, who authored and sponsored the measure.
But along with addressing inadequacies in the country’s regulatory regime, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 may have been used by some of its proponents to ease in measures to limit freedom of expression in the country.
Despite claims to the contrary, the Philippines had enjoyed a measure of press freedom. The NUJP said this liberty risks being curtailed since the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 could be used as a legal mantle to criminalise libel.
“The enactment of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was, to say the least, sneaky and betrays this administration’s commitment to transparency and freedom of expression,” the NUJP said.
“The inclusion of libel among the crimes that may be committed with the use of computers poses a threat not only against the media and other communicators but anyone in the general public who has access to a computer and the internet,” the media watchdog group said.
It added that the new law actually broadens the scope of a libel law “so antiquated and draconian that the United Nations Human Rights Council itself declared it excessive and called on the Philippine government to review the law with the end of decriminalising libel.”
“… the Philippine press remains free [] because Filipino journalists insist it remain so. We are certain bloggers, netizens and all those who value freedom of expression share these sentiments, whatever the Cybercrime Prevention Act says,” the NUJP said.
The palace said the Cybercrime Prevention Act is a groundbreaking new law that governs cyberspace. According to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, the new law sets limits on offences against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data system, illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, and misuse of electronics devices.
Likewise it also makes computer-related forgery, fraud, and identity theft illegal as well as content-related offences such as cyber sex and child pornography.
