National Christian Council voices concerns over Online Safety Bill

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) has issued a statement expressing deep concerns regarding the proposed Online Safety Bill. In their statement, the NCCSL asserted that the existing legal framework is sufficient to address instances of harmful speech, making it unnecessary to enact more stringent laws.

The NCCSL called upon the government to withdraw the bill immediately, highlighting its potential to curtail freedom of speech and its perceived inconsistency with democratic principles.

One of the key concerns raised by the Council is the proposal to establish an entity called the Online Safety Commission without adequate provisions to ensure its independence and impartiality.

The statement pointed out that Chapter 3 of the bill imposes restrictions on online communication of certain statements, some of which are vaguely defined and overly broad. This vagueness could potentially enable executive control and limit legitimate criticism and dissent, fundamental elements of a democratic society.

The NCCSL emphasized that laws that grant extensive discretion to the executive and its investigative agencies have been misused in the past.

Furthermore, the Council expressed disappointment that the bill was not drafted through a process of public consultation and discussion, which could have led to a less draconian legislative proposal.

In conclusion, the NCCSL called upon the government to withdraw the bill, deeming it both anti-human rights and anti-democratic. Their statement adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the Online Safety Bill in Sri Lanka.