The International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
(NUJP) in expressing serious concern that the newly enacted Cybercrime
Prevention Act 2012 poses a significant threat to press freedom and limits freedom
of expression in the Philippines.
The
new laws enacted under the Act which was passed last week, have been criticised
by the NUJP and international media groups for the inclusion of libel among the
crimes that may be committed online.
The
NUJP believe that the Act is a threat not only to the media but to any member of
the public with access to the Internet, as it broadens the scope of the libel law to include
online expression.
The United Nations Human Rights Council declared the Philippines’ libel
law to be excessive and incompatible with international human rights law, in October 2011.
The NUJP
said the enactment of the new law “was, to say the least, sneaky and betrays this
[the Aquino] administration’s commitment to transparency and freedom of
expression” and that it clearly shows the world that the Aquino Government is “no
friend of press freedom.”
The government
enacted the Cybercrime Prevention Act while ratification of the Freedom of Information
Act continues to be delayed more than 20 years after an FOI bill was first
filed.
“The IFJ is greatly concerned that the
inclusion of online content in the Act could be used to curtail freedom of
expression online,” said the IFJ Asia Pacific. “We are further concerned that
the government of the Philippines continues to delay the passing of the FOI
bill, which clearly stands against their stated commitment to press freedom.”
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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