Junk the Cybercrime Prevention Law: Why You Should Sign This Petition

/ooc: Reblogging this here as a signal boost. It is imperative for myself that I get this out to as many people as possible — this roleplay account being the easiest. Please take the time to read through, or at least just take a quick look at the bolded parts. I feel extremely strongly about this (which is why I wrote this entire post in the first place), and I, frankly, don’t want to disappear off the face of the internet.

riyutase:

Here’s a post directed to both Filipinos and non-Filipinos, because you know what? That petition is on change.org. It doesn’t matter if you’re FIlipino or not.

The petition can be found here.

Remember SOPA AND PIPA? Well, here in the Philippines, a very similar law HAS BEEN passed. It will take effect on October 3, 2012. Well Republic Act 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Law” is full of holes and errors, it’s worse than than the aforementioned two.

It’s ironic, isn’t it? Our current President Aquino’s family once fought against Martial Law, clamoring for the freedom and rights of Filipinos everywhere. Well, wouldn’t a law like this be just like a net version of Martial Law?

My own initial reaction was knee-jerk like everyone else’s. No more torrents, no more downloads, no more defaulting to piratebay when that one game is way too expensive for you. I’ve calmed down since, and hunted down some information. Here’s some reasons why you should sign the petition and junk this law.

The libel clause.

Wikipedia’s article on the law has this (emphasis mine).

Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is a Philippine Republic Act approved on 12 September 2012. It aims to address legal issues concerning online interactions. Among the cybercrime offenses included in the bill are cybersquatting, cybersex, child pornography, identity theft, illegal access to data and libel.

Libel?

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