PNoy signs cybercrime bill banning cybersex and other crimes
President Benigno Aquino III has signed the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (HB 5808), making the bill into a law and making a whole host of internet -related activities criminal.
The law, signed September 12th, makes cybersex illegal. More specifically, it bans the “willful engagement, maintenance, control or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer, for favor or consideration.”
An Inquirer Technology report Saturday says the law classified cybercrimes in the Philippines into two categories: Internet Crimes and Commercial Crimes committed with the use of the Internet.
In addition to the cybersex ban, the new law makes these other offenses punishable by law or expands existing laws: child pornography, some forms of Internet spam and even online libel, forgery, fraud, identity theft and attacks against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data system, illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, system interference, and misuse of devices.
When the bill originally passed the House back in May, the bill said, the “CybercrimePrevention Act of 2012,” will enable the State to adopt sufficient powers to effectively prevent and combat all forms of misuse, abuse and illegal access by facilitating their detection, investigation, arrest and prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for fast and reliable international cooperation.
The law also creates the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President to formulate and implement a national cyber security plan.
The National Bureau of Investigation is tasked with enforcing provisions of the law. Together with the Philippine National Police, it will organize a cybercrime unit or center manned by cybercrime special investigators.
Courts will be designated as cybercrime courts to handle such crimes.