Supreme Court: Cybercrime Law protects private citizens

In day one of the deliberations on the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 justices of the Supreme Court played devils advocate asking whether or not it was the obligation of the state to protect private citizens. The theme of discussions revolved around the recourse of a citizen abused online?  Several Justices stressed the ease of posting defamatory messages in the age of social media. Justice Marvic Leonen posed this question, “is there not a state interest in coming in to remove the megaphones from individuals who are careless?” Leonen used as an example the case of Chris Lao, a UP student mocked in 2011 after footage of him driving through flood waters went viral. Oral arguments will continue on January 22. Petitioners are asking the High Court to extend the temporary restraining order that will lapse in February. Chief Justice Ma Lourdes Sereno says the court will take note of this.

Read more on Rappler here and here.