Media groups and Filipinos have stepped up calls to repeal a tough new law that targets cybercrime.
Activists fear the legislation, which took effect on Wednesday, will be used to suppress online freedoms in the Southeast Asian nation, AP news service reported.
The Cybercrime Prevention Act went through despite last-minute petitions to the Supreme Court to stop it.
The justices said they will take up the issue next week.
The law is envisioned as a measure against hacking, identity theft, spamming, cybersex and online child pornography.
But citizens and groups who protested on social networking sites, blogs and out in the streets fear
politicians will use it to silence critics.
The law contains a provision that says libel - which is already punishable by up to six years in prison - is also a cybercrime.
It doubles cumulative penalties for online offenses and allows government agencies to search, seize
and destroy computer data deemed libelous. Full story...
Related posts:
Activists fear the legislation, which took effect on Wednesday, will be used to suppress online freedoms in the Southeast Asian nation, AP news service reported.
The Cybercrime Prevention Act went through despite last-minute petitions to the Supreme Court to stop it.
The justices said they will take up the issue next week.
The law is envisioned as a measure against hacking, identity theft, spamming, cybersex and online child pornography.
But citizens and groups who protested on social networking sites, blogs and out in the streets fear
politicians will use it to silence critics.
The law contains a provision that says libel - which is already punishable by up to six years in prison - is also a cybercrime.
It doubles cumulative penalties for online offenses and allows government agencies to search, seize
and destroy computer data deemed libelous. Full story...
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- The rise of the global police state...
- India's face-off with internet freedom...
- The term "truth" deleted from the Internet in China!!!
- Announcing The Declaration of Internet Freedom...
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