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Scrutinize Philippines cybercrime bill, Filipino Netizens urged

Sep 24, 2009 17:29

With the Philippine House of Representatives getting ready to deliberate on House Bill (HB) 6794 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009, Filipino Netizens are being urged to read and critique the bill.

As I previously blogged, one of the worries of Filipino Internet users was that the controversy generated by online scandals in the Philippines, such as the Katrina Halili-Hayden Kho sex video, may be used to justify passing new cyberlaws or imposing Internet censorship in the Philippines.

HB 6794 seeks to define cybercrimes such as cybersex and child pornography, and propose measures for preventing and punishing such acts.

While I'm keeping an open mind about the pending bill, it's hard not to be leery of any attempt by the Philippines government to regulate the Internet, particularly given our experience of having our freedom curtailed during two decades of martial law.

Here's an excerpt from the Kabataan Partylist's (the youth partylist in Philippines Congress--"kabataan" is the Filipino word for "youth") call for a consultation.

Kabataan Partylist, through this blog site, would like to consult you, Filipino "netizens", on your comments and suggestions with regard to the bill, before Congress passes it on second reading, and eventually resolves to legislate it into law. The text of the bill may be read here.

To my fellow Filipino Netizens, hope you could read the cybercrime bill and help spread the word, so that others may also give their feedback.

Thanks to @tonyocruz for the heads up on Twitter.

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