Paz, Doreen F.

BPS I-2
Cyber Crime Law

Upon arriving at the location where we were guided by, the activists told us
the topics that were about to be discussed last March 12. They asked us which topic
wed prefer so that we will be divided accordingly. We listed our names below the
topic we chose and one of the members will be informing, teaching and sharing with
us his or her opinion about the said topic. And most of us chose Cyber-Crime Law as
our subject to write about.
First, what is Cyber-Crime Law for me? Well, based upon the information I
know and what I learned is that it is a law pertaining to the crimes that is said to be
committed through means of technology and how the doer should be punished. But
its just the basic and I dont know the provisions and the limitations of this Law.
But from what I learned in the said discussion, I learned a lot like the Cyber
Crime Law also known as R.A. 10175, according to us, is unconstitutional. It
received a one year temporary restraining order. Theres this said issue that
happened in the past that pertains to fraud and the legislators said that in order to
prevent plagiarism, a certain law is needed. Thats why Cyber Crime Law was
formed on October 2012. When it is still in the reading process, there is the protest
in the Supreme Court especially in the field of media and journalists because in all
the provisions of this act it clashes with what the Bill of rights says in Section 4. No
law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press,
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for
redress of grievances.
The 1987 Constitution states that there shall be no law passed that should
suppress freedom of expression but why is there a Cyber Crime Law? The first point
of why does it vetoed by the people specifically the youth and student journalists,
because according to their point of view is that they use technology specially the
internet as their means of spreading news. Now, if there is presence of Cyber Crime
Law that has a provision that if you release a certain data especially if it is
confidential then they will just file a case against you like online libel. Where is the
freedom of the press?
First, the act received temporary restraining order of 120 days; we think that
it has been stopped but when it has ended, an indefinite temporary restraining
order was imposed by the Supreme Court. When we say indefinite, there is no
specific date to when it will end so it seems that it is made so that the issue would
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Paz, Doreen F.

BPS I-2

surpass. If we will just notice that there are some of the provisions in Cyber Crime
Law that is unclear. Example, there is one provision there that the government has
access to all our accounts online and if they saw that it is subversive or libellous,
they can hack what else you posted. Its not just freedom of expression; its also a
violation of our privacy. And I think that the span of the penalty is just absurd
because it is longer than the rape case and they said that there is no bail for it. If we
all read and analyse the said act, its definitely confusing because it seems that
what is said on the first section is just repeated in the second section and it really
seems that its just to prolong the contents of the act.
Now, we all know what Cyber Crime Law is and what its provisions. I think we
should all be encouraged to abolish and stop the act and not just a temporary order
by the Supreme Court. Why do I think so? Because as we analyse the said act, we
should know that it is violating our rights as a human like our right to privacy and
especially our freedom of expression. Yes, they might be right in terms of stopping
some people in using foul words against an institution and some just use internet as
their way of having fun that others think of as offensive but the government must
think of positive ways in order to apprehend this kind of situations.

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