Philippine Scene #16 - Republic Act 10175 Cyber Crime Law
UN supports the FREEDOM of EXPRESSION online as a basic HUMAN RIGHT!
It all started with Cyber Bullying
Two years ago (2010), I've written about the personal experience of my niece being bullied by her classmate via the chat box of Facebook in the internet.
When the article was published through this site, HubPages, a staff of the national television network (ABS-CBN Channel 2) sent me an e-mailed message that they're interested to interview my niece as they will be documenting episodes of bullying online.
Unfortunately, my sister (her mother) declined. She didn't want to share the incident in the national media.
Another television network (GMA Channel 7) followed through and they were able to acknowledge me as the author of the article.
With that hub, the Cyber Crime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were able to document series of cyber bullying in the Philippines.
I also made a Facebook Page, where I linked and posted news, blogs and posts regarding cyber bullying from around the world. Other pages helping to console victims of bullying are still increasing at the said social network.
With all the goings on around the world when it comes to internet activities, the Philippine Senate approved a bill into law that will start on October 3, 2012.
It is called Republic Act No.10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Republic Act. No. 10175
Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
The most noted crimes that Republic Act 10175 is going to penalized are:
- Libel - harsh and maligning utterance or words to other people, especially government officers/servants. It's also synonymous with bullying. (Why can't they just concentrate on different types of bullying online?)
- Cyber Sex - online act of sexual perversion or live acts being viewed online. (It's been a long time problem since the dawn of internet that is also related to online pornography.)
- Pornography - maintaining or advocating online sites regarding the subject. (It can also through blogging of having pages of nude photos or videos that also serves as link to products that an online user can buy.)
The usage of internet as a tool for communication should never be abused,as stressed by the said act.
There are provisions that are detrimental to the masses, that's why it resulted to massive protests by online hackers.
Most of the netizens found out that the freedom of expression is being suppressed by the new cybercrime law and it will literally shut down the mouths of active online users in order to avoid scenarios of being caught and thrown into jail without the necessary due process.
Most of Filipino online users at Facebook or Twitter are now sharing and tweeting similar sentiments that can put the nation into the dark age in social media as more and more users are putting a black profile on their account. (I'm still contemplating if it's necessary.)
More so, there's an ongoing campaign against the main author of the law that was signed by no-less than the President, His Excellency Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III (P-noy).
Senator Edgardo Angara, who's at the limelight being bombarded with distrust and negative messages from OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker's sites) and Hacktivists or Anonymous Philippines, to mention a few.
Online hackers are being subjected to ridicule by Philippine media as they trampled some government sites, where The National Telecommunications Commission, is one of it.
Funny thing, some senators who signed the bill into law are not aware of the full content of the act. They're now initiating a move to amend some provisions that will not hurt ordinary Filipinos who are using online media in contacting or messaging their loved ones, families or friends.
If only they had included the people through public consultation, the scenario of deactivating government sites online will not happen.
Cyber Crime Law
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