The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expresses concern that the recently proposed Online Safety legislation would help to stifle free expression and further restrict an already constricting civic space in Sri Lanka if adopted in its current form.
A measure titled “Online Safety” was gazetted by the Ministry of people Security on September 18, 2023, with the goal of drastically regulating the content of online communication, including that of the general people.
According to a statement from the ICJ, a number of the bill’s provisions, notably those pertaining to freedom of speech and information, would help to restrict the country’s ability to exercise its fundamental freedoms and human rights. Provisions concerning the formation, appointment, and duties of an Online Safety Commission and other experts, the ambiguous and expansive phrasing of acts defined as criminal offences, and excessive and disproportionate punitive punishments are of particular concern.
