While the government and the House of Representative have failed to comply with the public’s call to revoke the controversial defamation article from the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, they have introduced further threats to freedom of expression by including a punishment for people posting texts, pictures, videos and memes deemed to incite fear or cause embarrassment in the law revision.



The crime, referred to as cyberbullying, poses a threat to freedom on the internet, as it is common for people to tell jokes and post memes criticizing public officials implicated in graft cases or political dynasty members ahead of a regional or general election.



The House claims that the passed provision not only aims to “protect children” but also the general public from bullying on the internet.



“The idea to cover cyberbullying in the revision of...