News

Online safety bill ready to be debated in parliament

May 14, 2018 10:32 pm

The recommendations on the Online Safety Bill was presented in parliament this morning by the Chairperson of the standing committee on Justice, Law and Human rights, Ashneel Sudhakar.

The Bill which seeks to promote online safety through the establishment of the Online Safety Commission will be put to debate, voted upon and be passed at a later time.

Around two months of consultations was held by the standing committee with various non-government organizations, political parties, private and public sectors as well as corporate bodies on the Bill.

Article continues after advertisement

In the Bill, a person who posts an electronic communication with the intention to cause harm to an individual; would cause harm to an ordinary reasonable individual in the position of the individual; or causes harm to the individual, commits an offence.

A person who is found guilty of committing this offence is liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $20,000 or a maximum prison term of five years or both for an individual.

The Bill states that a person must not post or threaten to post an intimate visual recording of an individual.