Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom is the upgraded version of Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
One issue I would like to clarify regarding with the passing of this law is about: "Honesty"; especially on the Section 52 of this law regarding Internet Libel, Hate Speech's line in the Truth as a Defense: "except if the content has been adjudged as unlawful or offensive in nature in accordance with existing jurisprudence...."
I will site speech in House of Congress as an example. You can't really express/stress the weight of the words of your speech if you won't give the right vocal tone for them. That also goes with words being expressed on the internet. You need to give the proper word, whether it's in a slang, in caps lock or even if it's hurtful, otherwise it will come out as a lie because that's not how you truly felt.
Netizens should just learn how to defend themselves by backing up their claims through reliable sources or websites and clear evidences. Know how and when to ignore a statement about you and know how and when to fight your rights and opinions.
The primary concern of this law should be is if a so-called defaming statement is true or false and not if it is offensive or respectful. I mean, if you were violated verbally by someone, are you gonna be respectful towards that person? How about when you had a nasty experience in a place, are you just gonna keep quiet and won't say anything about the place? Of course not.
Of course not, people won't really be respectful towards each other in cyberspace because firstly, internet strangers usually don't really see face to face like how people usually meet in person and they also don't know each other in person. Second, you really can't control the feelings of people. Those feelings will come out sooner or later whether you restrict them or not and sometimes, they will get uglier than they should be when they are restricted. Feelings and emotions are parts of human rights.
And with the millions slandering articles, blogs and forums made here in the Philippines each day before the enactment of this law, do they honestly think they could sue all of them?
