Nipping Cyber-Bullying In The Bud | Tempo - News in a Flash

By Jaye C. Bautista

Manila, Philippines ? We?ve all heard about cyber-bullying and more so, lately, here in our country ? a bill is being passed about it but as unpleasant as its effects are on people, there are still those who aren?t too keen about passing the law that would see perpetrators serving time in the slammer!?

Well, back on the subject. Here?s an update on this. The Philippine government has asked the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and junk 15 petitions contesting the law. According to GMA News Online last Monday, the government, through the country?s Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), argue the issuance of the temporary restraining order on the implementation of cybercrime law ?should not be made to rest merely on purely legal arguments, without evidence being introduced, for or against the validity of a challenged statute?.

Now with the TRO lifted there again is the uproar on the Cyber Crimes law in the land. But I ask myself, why not, really? The law only ?regulates and penalizes? acts defined as cybercrime such as hacking and believe me I for one would love to see those perennial hackers of mine take on some punishment.

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

While hailed for penalizing illegal acts done via the internet that were not covered by old laws, the act has been criticized for its provision on criminalizing libel, which is perceived to be a curtailment in freedom of expression. The Philippines? Cybercrime Prevention Act had been suspended for 120 days following restraining order against it by the Supreme Court in October. The law had come under fire for its vague definition of online libel, violation of personal rights and tough legal penalties for Internet defamation.

The cyber law her won?t infringe on people from using the Internet and expressing their thoughts. It?s not a ?gag order.? If any, this will give us a blanket of protection. It?s not out to curtail one?s freedom of speech it?s going against ?abusers? of that freedom. In my honest opinion, I AM ALL FOR IT. If only for the fact that I?m a constant target of every kind of cyber bullying, well I?ve had my accounts (email, Facebook even my phones!) hacked over and over again.

Cybercrime to address the perennial crimes spawned by the Internet such as online pornography and cyber prostitution. Those evil doers are who the cyber bill should be for. Freedom of expression shouldn?t mean freedom to hack away at anybody?s emails, social media site profiles or posting personal videos and malicious images. And it?s no doubt we need a law on.

Luvta hear from yah!

Techiemommy@gmail.com

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Source: http://www.tempo.com.ph/2013/01/nipping-cyber-bullying-in-the-bud/

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