The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) has raised concerns about the Draft Online Safety Bill (OSB) currently under consideration by the Government of Sri Lanka.
Issuing a 13-point letter to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, the AIC advocates for extensive revisions and overhaul of the draft bill.
“While we appreciate the efforts made thus far with the industry, a more comprehensive and meaningful consultation is necessary to address the complexities and nuances associated with the Bill. We acknowledge that the legislative process is intricate, and deliberations are ongoing. However, it is crucial to ensure that the Bill is not only effective but also balanced, proportionate, and practicable in its scope and approach,” it said.
The AIC pointed out that the proposed legislation, in its present form, poses significant challenges that, if not addressed comprehensively, could undermine the potential growth of Sri Lanka’s digital economy.
The AIC added that its submissions to the minister highlight various areas of concern from specific clauses ranging from regulatory independence and extraterritorial application to the overbroad definition of intermediaries, ambiguous terminology defining prohibited statements, divergence from international human rights and best practice standards, and more. (NewsWire)
