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Protestors in Batticaloa condeming the Online Safety Bill this week.
Sri Lanka’s parliament today voted to go ahead with a scheduled debate on the controversial Online Safety Bill that has been vehemently opposed by critics who state it stifles freedom of speech on the internet.
Earlier today speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena called for a vote to decide if the two-day debate should proceed. Out of 225 members in parliament, 83 voted in favor while 50 voted against it.
Prior to the vote, a party leaders meeting was held in the morning at the request of the opposition to discuss the matter. However, members say that even after the parliament reconvened, they were yet to receive a copy of the Sectoral Oversight Committee’s rapport on the bill in time for the debate.
Opposition MPs requested that the vote be rescheduled on account of this delay however government MPs objected to the request insisting parliament proceed with the vote as planned. Opposition MPs told Tamil Guardian that they had requested for the vote once the amendments were incorporated which will do away with two steps. Despite this request parliament forged ahead with the vote.
#OnlineSafetyBill
— Ambika Satkunanathan (@ambikasat) January 23, 2024
1/This doc is what was given to MPs today. It is 2 pages and there are only 4 lines on the Bill, which state the Sectoral Oversight Comm “agreed to the Bill” and that their report will be presented to Parliament on 23 Jan, i.e. the day of the debate. https://t.co/JxXWbavv9j pic.twitter.com/zZzCZMO5fK
Opposition lawmakers and other critics have warned that the Online Safety Bill could be a threat to freedom of speech. The bill, along with a new counter-terror law has drawn criticism from various quarters including civil society.
Tiran Alles, the Public Security Minister while opening the debate said that the amendments recommended by the Supreme Court will be incorporated after the bill is passed on Wednesday. He told the House that the Bill seeks to address problems related to online fraud, abuse, and false statements that threaten national security and stability.
The Asia Internet Coalition in a statement issued today refuteed the assertions made by the Public Security Minister.
Jeff Paine, Managing Director, Asia Internet Coalition in a statement said that “despite our (AIC) commitment to constructive collaboration, the AIC has not been privy to proposed amendments to the bill".
"We unequivocally stand by our position that the Online Safety Bill, in its current form, is unworkable and would undermine potential growth and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka’s digital economy," he added. "We firmly believe that for the Bill to align with global best practices, extensive revisions are imperative.”
In October 2023, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) raised “serious concerns” over the Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Online Safety Bill, warning that both bills “give the authorities a range of expansive powers and can impose restrictions on human rights, not in line with international human rights law”.
See the full AIC statement here.
