Significant changes in cyber laws seen

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate and the House of Representatives are coming up with "substantial" amendments to the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2011 and the Data Privacy Act of 2012, a group of online professionals said Monday.

"It appears that both houses of Congress are considering amendments to both laws with substantial changes, particularly for the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The President is set to name the chair of the National Privacy Commission and this will influence the substance of the implementing rules and regulations for the law," Danny Eguia, executive director of the Internet Mobile and Marketing Association (IMMAP), said in a statement.

The commission is charged to protect personal information stored in communications systems.

Eguia made the statement in an advisory on the postponement of the legal forum on Cybercrime Prevention and Data Privacy Laws set November 20 to 21. The event has been moved to February of next year.

"IMMAP has just been made aware of various developments that impact greatly upon the content of the planned Legal Forum on Cybercrime Prevention and Data Privacy Laws on Nov. 20-21 at the Intercontinental Hotel," Eguia said in the advisory.

"This was an unavoidable circumstance as we were only made aware (of the development) very recently," Eguia added.

The cyber crime measure is currently under a Temporary Restraining Order until February 2013 after netizens and activists rallied against its passage before the Supreme Court in early October.

Several lawmakers such as Senator Teofisto Guingona III and House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II promised to propose amendments to the new cyber crime law, particularly on its online libel provision, in lieu of the protests.