NUJP: Cybercrime law threatens freedom of expression

While the newly signed Anti-Cybercrime Law has noble aims in combating hacking and child pornography, it may also threaten freedom of expression, a media watchdog group said Tuesday.

 

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Republic Act 10175 shows the threat against freedom of expression remains long after Martial Law.

 

In a statement, it said 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 – nil."  "(T)he Cybercrime Prevention Act 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 decriminalizing libel," the statement said.

 

But the NUJP also said the Philippine press will remain 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. And so we say, bring it on," it said.

 

The NUJP added listing libel among the crimes covered by the law may pose a threat not only to media and communicators but anyone who has access to a computer and the Internet.

 

Republic Act 10175 lists as punishable acts the following:

 

- Illegal access to a computer system

- Illegal interception of data

- Data interference, including intentional alteration or damaging of data

- System interference, including damaging or altering computer data or programs as well as the use of viruses

- Misuse of devices

- Use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution or making available without right of malware, passwords or codes

- Cybersquatting

- Computer-related forgery

- Computer-related fraud

- Computer-related identity theft

- Cybersex

- Child pornography

- Unsolicited commercial communication

 

'Lethargy' on FOI bill

 

The NUJP also twitted Congress for its "lethargy" concerning the Freedom of Information Act, which facilitates access to public documents.

 

It said that while President Benigno Aquino III repeatedly declared the FOI bill a priority, he "never lifted a finger to help shepherd through the legislative mill."

 

"(A)nd it becomes all too apparent that this president never meant anything he said with respect to our rights and our freedoms," it added.

 

Broadening scope of libel

 

The NUJP said the Cybercrime Prevention Act broadens the scope of the libel law, which it said is 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 decriminalizing libel."

 

"We have time and again aired our suspicions that this president was no friend of press freedom, what with his apathy toward the continued murders, assaults and threats on our ranks and his penchant for whining and blaming media for delivering the news instead of singing his praises. The passage of these new laws confirms those suspicions and unmasks his real intent," the NUJP said. — ELR, GMA News