Janxi R.

Chua IV-Einstein

The Unconstitutional Cybercrime Law

Cybercrime law has been very controversial these past days. Its a law that regulates and governs the internet activities of many Filipino. Its a law said to be for the heinous crimes happening in the internet that the local police cant identify. But because of the different provisions included in this law, many reacted and many protested to stop the implementation of this. Netizens have also conducted both online and street protests. Online libel is one of the most controversial provisions in this law. Many said that this shows that the government does not support the freedom of expression. Liking and sharing libelous material on Facebook and retweeting similarly defamatory content on Twitter would make a netizen liable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, Sen. Santiago warned on media. This is some of punishable acts prescribed by the new law that makes it violative of the constitutional provision on free speech. She added that the laws provisions are also overboard and vague which makes it unconstitutional. These are the reasons why the public wants to strike down the cybercrime law as unconstitutional. Simply repeating things, you made a comment, you liked, you shared, youre already guilty, because youre aiding and abetting. You can interpret it that way, thats why Im saying it is too vague, Santiago told her audience. Sen. Angara, the sponsor and one of the authors of the bill in the Senate, has sought to dismiss such fears by saying that mere liking in Facebook doesnt make one an author of material deemed libelous. As to sharing, Angara said, conspiracy between the author and the one that shared should be established.