COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) – The United States expressed concern over Sri Lanka's online regulation bill Thursday, a day after it was passed overwhelmingly in parliament over protests by media, opposition parties and rights activists.
The online safety bill would allow the government to set up a commission with broad powers, including ordering citizens and internet service providers to remove online posts deemed to be “prohibited speech”. They can also legally pursue those who publish such posts.
Sri Lanka's president flees the country while demonstrators storm the prime minister's office during a state of emergency
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chan said the U.S. is concerned about the potential impact of the bill, adding, “Sri Lanka prioritizes transparency and will ensure that no law suppresses the voice of its people.” I asked.
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Sri Lanka's so-called online safety bill has been the subject of significant opposition.
Critics say the law is an attempt by Sri Lanka's coalition government to stifle speech in an election year as the Indian Ocean island country grapples with an economic crisis that requires international bailout. claims.
Media, opposition politicians, internet groups and civil rights groups say the measure undermines human rights and freedom of expression.
Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday that the bill would create broad and vague repressive laws that “carry long prison terms for speech-related crimes.”
The Asian Internet Coalition, whose members include Apple, Amazon, Google and Yahoo, warned that the bill could undermine potential growth and foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka's digital economy.
The government said the bill would address issues related to online fraud, abuse and false statements that threaten national security and stability. He denied that the bill was drafted to harass the media or political opponents.
Sri Lanka is struggling to emerge from the worst economic crisis that hit the island nation two years ago. The country declared bankruptcy in 2022 with more than $83 billion in debt, more than half of which is owed to foreign creditors.
The crisis caused severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials, which sparked violent public protests and led to the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. After Rajapaksa fled, then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed president by Parliament.
Last year, the IMF agreed to a $2.9 billion bailout for the hard-hit country.
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Shortages of essential goods have since subsided, but public dissatisfaction has grown after the government imposed new taxes on professionals and businesses and raised utility bills.
Human rights groups say Wickremesinghe is trying to stifle dissent by cracking down on anti-government protests and arresting protesters and activists ahead of presidential elections later this year.
