Sri Lanka votes on new law to regulate online content
Lawmakers in Sri Lanka are poised to vote on a social media regulation bill, drawing criticism from opposition figures and activists who argue that it could stifle free speech.
Scheduled for a vote on Wednesday, the Online Safety Bill proposes the imposition of jail terms for content deemed illegal by a five-member commission. Additionally, social media platforms such as Google, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter) could be held liable for content posted on their platforms.
The government, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe asserts that the bill is essential for combatting cyber crimes, including offenses such as child abuse, data theft, and online fraud.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles introducing the bill on Tuesday highlighted the need for legislation to address the rising number of cyber crime complaints in the country, which reached 8,000 last year.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the Online Safety Bill on free speech. Critics argue that the broad powers granted to the commission could be used to suppress dissenting voices and restrict freedom of expression.
The Asian Internet Coalition (AIC), representing major tech companies including Apple, Amazon, Google, and Yahoo, has cautioned Sri Lanka about the potential consequences of the bill.
The AIC warned that the proposed legislation could negatively affect investments in the country's IT industry and has called for extensive amendments to address these concerns.
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