{"id":235476,"date":"2024-01-24T00:26:43","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T18:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=235476"},"modified":"2024-02-03T12:21:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T06:51:34","slug":"sri-lankas-proposed-internet-law-threatens-upcoming-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sri-lankas-proposed-internet-law-threatens-upcoming-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka\u2019s Proposed Internet Law Threatens Upcoming Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0<\/strong>Meenakshi Ganguly<\/a> –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Meenakshi Ganguly<\/p><\/div>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s Proposed Internet Law Threatens Upcoming Elections; <\/strong>Government Body Could Impose Sweeping Censorship, Prosecute Offenders<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A repressive new internet law that Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to rush through parliament<\/a><\/span>\u00a0this week would create broad and vague new speech-related offenses punishable by lengthy prison terms. The law would seriously threaten the right to freedom of expression as Sri Lanka prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections later this year.<\/p>\n

The proposed law, the\u00a0Online Safety Bill<\/a><\/span>, purportedly provides protections against online harassment, abuse, and fraud. Instead, it is mostly\u00a0concerned with<\/a><\/span>\u00a0creating a new \u201cOnline Safety Commission<\/a><\/span>,\u201d appointed by the president, that can decide what online speech is \u201cfalse\u201d or \u201charmful,\u201d remove content, restrict and prohibit internet access, and prosecute individuals and organizations.<\/p>\n

Commission-appointed \u201cexperts\u201d would be empowered to enter and search suspects\u2019 premises. Offenses under the law carry hefty fines and prison sentences up to five years.\u00a0The United Nations<\/a><\/span>\u00a0human rights office said the law \u201ccould potentially criminalize nearly all forms of legitimate expression, creating an environment that has a chilling effect on freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Asia Internet Coalition, an industry body including tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Meta, has\u00a0called the bill<\/span><\/a>\u00a0a \u201cdraconian system to stifle dissent\u201d and\u00a0warned<\/a><\/span>\u00a0it \u201ccould undermine the potential growth of Sri Lanka\u2019s digital economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka is still reeling from an economic crisis partly caused by\u00a0misgovernment<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and failures of accountability. In 2022, months-long protests demanding reform toppled the prime minister and president. Since coming to power that year, President Wickremesinghe has moved to stifle dissent.<\/p>\n

Other repressive legislation before parliament includes a new broadcasting law, which the UN experts say could be used to \u201csuppress dissenting voices,\u201d and a counterterrorism law that \u201cgrants wide powers<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to the police – and to the military – to stop, question and search, and to arrest and detain people, with inadequate judicial oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the International Monetary Fund<\/span><\/a>, which is supporting Sri Lanka\u2019s economy, restrictions on civil society, including the \u201cbroad application of counter-terrorism rules,\u201d already limit \u201coversight and monitoring of government actions,\u201d contributing to \u201csevere governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s repressive laws have facilitated widespread human rights violations for decades and contributed to economic and political crises. Passing the Online Safety Bill would be a disastrous setback.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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