By David Casuco
LOS ANGELES – Filipino netizens, rights groups, activists and bloggers are outraged by the Aquino government’s highly contentious Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, saying some of the law’s provisions violate the Filipinos’ constitutional rights to due process and freedom of expression.
The Cybercrime Law, signed by the President on September 12, 2012, and took effect on Oct. 3, was essentially envisioned as a tool to fight Internet crime, but it turned out to be monster with teeth so powerful, it threatens to chew off Internet users in their comfort zones.
In social sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube; websites and blogs, the mounting anti-Cyber Crime Law protests are palpable as they in full manifest.
Posting her sentiment on Facebook, A.J. seeth: “Hindi matatabunan ang kapalpakan ng administrasyon nila bagkos lalong makakasama sa imaye ni pnoy and pinaggagagawa nila. (There is no way to they can hide the Palace’s errors; their moves will harm even more the President’s image).
Pedro Marcen on FB: “Cybercrime Prevention Act has actually done what the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect International Property Act (PIPA) sought to achieve in the United States, which was to curb illegal sharing and downloading of copyrighted music and videos online. Both bills were defeated.
Justine Mauricio waxed sarcastic on FB: “This (cybercrime law) was supported and brought to you by the “honorable” Senator Sotto who is never been involved in cybercrime such as plagiarizing bloggers and a dead U.S. senator.”
Cryptic that they are, the reactions on Tweets are nothing but furious.
Says dafnyduck: “Senators who passed the cybercrime law, you will feel our vengeance on election day.” @pbaologist: “Let us keep democracy going. Let us continue to be heard.” @princesscita: “grabe kaya natutulong ni pnoy. Tingnan nyo mga priorities: Wang-Wang, Corona, & Cybercrime Law are his biggest contributions (It’s terrible. Look at his priorities: Wang-Wang, Corona; and Cybercrime Law his biggest contributions of all).
Filipino-American progressive groups, likewise, are into the anti-cybercrime law bandwagon. Bernadette Ellorin, Chairperson of Bayan-USA, said in her website post: “Laws drafted by the ruling class to prevent ‘internet crimes’ benefit a privileged few: big corporations and ruling regimes who want to maintain power and control over ideas and facts,” she explained. ”Efforts to criminalize the development and dissemination of opposing ideas and facts forces (sic) the people under surveillance by a fascist state. When every status update and blog post is under strict scrutiny, the people will not be silenced as the government hopes. Our protest will only multiply and find other ways to spread.”
Posted by PWD
on October 5, 2012. Filed under Philippines,World.
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