16 April 2014
A senior Cambodian government adviser on
information technology says a draft cybercrime law is unnecessary and could
lead to demonstrations and unrest if passed as currently written. Phu Leewood
says the current criminal code can be used to prosecute offenders, so a
separate law is not needed.
He added that the Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications, which drafted the law, should have had a public comment
period and consulted with civic organizations. If there is no such process, it
means Cambodian voices are ignored. He said that if such a law is passed, there
will be strong reaction from the public, as it hasn’t been involved. He also criticized
that the law was written by people who lack technical knowledge, and without
consultations with legal experts, judges or prosecutors.
Government officials have not been available for
comment on the draft law, which was publicized online last week by the Cambodian
Center for Human Rights. The Center said that the law, if passed in its current
form, will be dangerous to free speech. Critics say the draft law, made public
last week, has vague language that could be abused by authorities and lead to
curbs of online freedoms.
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