Sri Lanka's controversial internet safety law comes into force

Sri Lanka's controversial internet safety law comes into force
Sri Lanka's controversial internet safety law comes into force

We show you our most important and recent visitors news details Sri Lanka's controversial internet safety law comes into force in the following article

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - COLOMBO — Sri Lanka's draconian law to regulate online content has come into force, in a move rights groups say is aimed at stifling freedom of speech.

The Online Safety Act gives a government commission broad powers to assess and remove "prohibited" content.

Authorities said it would help fight cybercrime, but critics say it suppresses dissent ahead of elections.

Social media had a key role in protests during an economic crisis in 2022, which ousted the then president.

The act was passed on 24 January by 108-62 votes — sparking protests outside parliament — and came into effect on Thursday after the Speaker endorsed it.

The wide-ranging law prohibits "false statements about incidents in Sri Lanka", statements with "an express intention of hurting religious feelings" and the misuse of bots, among other things.

A five-member commission appointed by the president will be given powers to assess these statements, to direct their removal, and to impose penalties on the people who made those statements.

The legislation will also make social media platforms liable for messages on their platforms.

Publicity Security Minister Tiran Alles, who introduced the draft legislation in parliament, said it was necessary to tackle offences associated with online fraud and statements that threaten national stability.

More than 8,000 complaints related to cybercrimes were filed last year, he noted.

A Sri Lankan pro-democracy group said on Thursday that the government's "adamant pursuit" of the legislation was a "clear indication of its intention to silent dissent and suppress civic activism" as the country was still reeling from the consequences of its worst economic crisis.

Food prices and inflation have reached record levels since the country declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with more than $83bn in debt. Then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to step down and leave the country after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed into his residence.

"While the citizens silently suffer amidst escalating cost of living and unmanageable hunger, it is crucial for the rulers to recognise that this silence does not equate to obedience... It is the precursor to a major backlash against the government's coercive rule," said the group known as the March 12 Movement.

Rights group Amnesty International said the act's broad provisions and vague wording would restrict people's rights to freedom of expression and privacy online.

"[It] is the newest weapon in the government's arsenal of tools that could be used to undermine freedom of expression and suppress dissent," said Thyagi Ruwanpathirana, the group's regional researcher for South Asia.

Last October, the UN's human rights office raised concerns against the draft law saying that it would give authorities "unfettered discretion to label and restrict expressions they disagree with as 'false statements'",

Sri Lanka's next presidential elections are expected to be held later this year or early next year. — BBC


These were the details of the news Sri Lanka's controversial internet safety law comes into force for this day. We hope that we have succeeded by giving you the full details and information. To follow all our news, you can subscribe to the alerts system or to one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new.

It is also worth noting that the original news has been published and is available at Saudi Gazette and the editorial team at AlKhaleej Today has confirmed it and it has been modified, and it may have been completely transferred or quoted from it and you can read and follow this news from its main source.

PREV Amnesty International says there is ‘sufficient evidence’ to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza
NEXT ‘Wake-up call’, ‘systemic impunity’: What Amnesty International is saying about Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

Author Information

I am Joshua Kelly and I focus on breaking news stories and ensuring we (“Al-KhaleejToday.NET”) offer timely reporting on some of the most recent stories released through market wires about “Services” sector. I have formerly spent over 3 years as a trader in U.S. Stock Market and is now semi-stepped down. I work on a full time basis for Al-KhaleejToday.NET specializing in quicker moving active shares with a short term view on investment opportunities and trends. Address: 838 Emily Drive Hampton, SC 29924, USA Phone: (+1) 803-887-5567 Email: [email protected]