The government has decided to make certain amendments to the Online Safety Bill, the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today (Oct 18).
The message was conveyed after the Supreme Court commenced hearing 45 petitions that had been filed challenging the Online Safety Bill.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena also informed Parliament today that a total of 45 petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the Online Safety Bill.
Concerns have been raised by various parties, including the opposition, on the Online Safety Bill, claiming that it violates the fundamental rights of the public.
The Online Safety Bill was published in the Sri Lankan Government Gazette in September 2023.
Key objectives of the bill include establishing the Online Safety Commission, making provisions to prohibit online communication of certain statements of fact in Sri Lanka, preventing the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes, making provisions to identify and declare online locations used for prohibited purposes in Sri Lanka, and to suppress the financing and other support of communication of false statements of fact. (NewsWire)