Sharing, retweeting libelous posts illegal under Cybercrime Law –SolGen

Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza has said that resharing of libelous posts on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter may constitute libel, but mere "liking" does not. In a report by Lia Mañalac-del Castillo on "News To Go," Jardeleza said that liking a post is similar to agreeing to an opinion, but disseminating potentially libelous statements by retweeting or reposting may violate libel law. Jardeleza defended the law before Supreme Court justices at the resumption of the oral arguments on the Cybercrime Prevention Act. He argued that Republic Act 10157 protects the public from internet-related crimes. He denied that the law restricts the public's freedom of speech, pointing out that no additional penalty has been inserted to the clause on cyber libel in the current version of the law. Jardeleza explained that libel committed under the Cybercrime law will be meted with the same penalty for libel as stated in the Revised Penal Code. The magistrates, however, noted that it is unclear whether an individual charged with libel under the Revised Penal Code can be tried anew for libel committed online. Associate Justice Roberto Abad also expressed concern over the "chilling effect" the libel clause may possibly have over netizens because it is unclear whether the mere act of "liking" negative posts on social media constitutes cyber libel. But according to Jardeleza, while republishing such posts may be libelous, liking the posts is not. "Kung i-republish mo, pwedeng may tama iyon, when you re-share or retweet. Kung 'like' 'yun, may depensa ka na opinyon mo lang 'yun eh. Republication is more problematic," he said. — A.M. Marzoña/TJD, GMA News