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Criminalising fake news: A double-edged sword? 

19 Jun 2021

  • Initial draft on laws to act against fake news completed 

By Yoshitha Perera    Though the initial draft of the “Fake News” Bill has been completed, many concerns have been raised regarding the recent arrests and possible issues pertaining to the implementation mechanism of the new law while safeguarding the freedom of expression.   Fake news and misinformation are not new. The dawn of the internet and the development of social media networks have made it easier to spread misinformation.  Within this framework, the people have to be informed on how to use the social media platforms in a responsible manner.  In this context, The Sunday Morning spoke to Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC to get knowledge on how the Government is implementing the new law while safeguarding freedom of expression.  Commenting on the current progress of the Bill, Sabry said that the Cabinet has approved the proposed “Fake News” Bill and the initial draft has been completed.   “Currently, the authorities are discussing the draft.” While adding that the Government has considered the need for freedom of expression and the right to dissent as an integral part of a functional democracy, Sabry noted that once the new legislation is passed, hopefully, most of the issues would be sorted. Currently, the initial draft of the Bill is being debated within expert groups to get a balanced piece of legislation.   A balancing act Responding to The Sunday Morning’s query on how to implement the new law while safeguarding the freedom of expression, Sabry said: “Even in the present situation, the freedom of expression mentioned in Article 14 of the Constitution is also subject to restriction by Article 15 (7) in the Constitution. There has to be a responsibility to the freedom of expression as well and the Bill would be a good move.” While explaining the Government’s move to restrict the fake posts shared on social media platforms, Sabry said that the relevant state authorities specifically mentioned that criticism, satire, or sarcasm is not subject to being categorised as fake news. He said: “Anybody can criticise; what we are trying to bring is some sort of responsibility in terms of the content that someone is publishing on social media networks. A person must take ownership and as long as that person has confidence in what is shared on social media platforms, there’s nothing to worry about.”  Furthermore, he stated that if a person is trying to incite communal tension, there has to be a legal penalty to prevent such action.   He said: “There is a difference between misinformation and disinformation, so if people share deliberate disinformation or falsehoods, it will certainly be seen as a criminal act.”  Stating that dissemination of misinformation or disinformation causes damage to the country’s national security, Sabry noted that Sri Lanka is not the only country that would be implementing such a law. He pointed out that countries all over the world – including Germany, France, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Pakistan – have introduced similar laws. “This is because it (fake news) has become a menace. If a person is not using these platforms with responsibility and shares things that would be a threat to the country’s security, that would be a problem.”    Overbroad interpretations of the law According to the views shared by Attorney-at-Law Suren Fernando on the Government’s move to criminalise fake news, if any authority or official is trying to provide overbroad interpretations of the existing laws which were intended to stop other acts and trying to make very broad interpretations in terms of the legitimate exercise of freedom of speech, which includes the ability to criticise the Government or any other person or to defend themselves, then that could be an abuse of power and the violation of fundamental rights. Section 120 of the Penal Code, which comes under Chapter IV: Of offences against the state, reads: “Whoever by words, either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise, excites or attempts to excite feelings of disaffection to the State, or excites or attempts to excite hatred to or contempt of the administration of justice, or excites or attempts to excite the people of Sri Lanka to procure, otherwise than by lawful means, the alteration of any matter by law established, or attempts to raise discontent or disaffection amongst the People of Sri Lanka, or to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of such people, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.” Referring to this Section as an example, Fernando said that some people had highlighted that Section 120 of the Penal Code states that a citizen can’t excite feelings of disaffection against the Sri Lankan state. “This is a misinterpretation. If we look at the explanatory note for that Section, it is mentioned that ‘it is not an offence under this Section by intending to show that the State has been misled or mistaken in measures, or to point out errors or defects in the Government or any part of it, or in the administration of justice...” While stating that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act criminalises hate speech, Fernando said that if the information/speech is not used to incite violence or to commit an offence, then it should not be criminalised.  He said: “At the same time, if we are talking about stopping forms of speech on the notion that they might create panic, then you have to question the reported incidents such as certain individuals saying that if schoolchildren are given tabs, they will become sterile, and if you eat kottu roti from a particular place, you’ll become sterile. What action can be taken on those posts which were shared earlier? So, it is a question. If the law is interpreted in a particular way, it has to be applied uniformly.” Referring to the Supreme Court (SC) case named “Jana Gosha”, Fernando said that at that time, the Court cautioned that if any person tries to restrict the peaceful exercise of the right to dissent, the person is indirectly encouraging that dissent to be exercised in a violent way.  He said: “If people are not able to exercise their rights peacefully, then they will be forced to find other ways to express their displeasure.”    Media organisations’ views The Sunday Morning also spoke to various media organisations to get their views on how to safeguard freedom of expression while combating fake news.  Sharing his views, veteran journalist and Professional Web Journalists Association Chairman Freddy Gamage said: “The Government is trying to prevent the massive criticism against certain failures in the Government by suppressing social media which has become a social platform for these criticisms.” He claimed that the Government is preparing to bring the law to the forefront to intimidate individuals and to suppress the social opinion that is being formed against the wrong actions of the Government.  Responding to The Sunday Morning’s query on protecting freedom of expression, Gamage said that as web journalists, they recognise professional journalism has to be practised even within the social media networks and the association had a code of ethics covering that.      He said: “We suggest that social media users practice professionalism when sharing posts on social media platforms. However, we are not saying that the Government should suppress or eradicate social media network users who criticise the existing system; we are saying that the Government has to face it. At the same time, we urge users to work for professional ethical social media use. Because, if they do, we will not actually give the Government a chance to implement such hidden policies.” Referring to an example, Gamage said: “According to our media practice, we cannot reveal a source, but the Government is trying to detect the particular source without having criteria.  “We have to intervene beyond issuing press releases. We also tell users not to get caught up in this government mess. Post the facts on social media and there is no need to reveal the sources. Keep them secret and work. Through the new law, the Government has a big chance to attack everyone because of a few irresponsible people.”  Social activist and Free Media Movement Convener Seetha Ranjani, sharing her views with The Sunday Morning, said that fake news can be interpreted in multiple ways and the Government has to explain the specific definition as to what is considered fake news.  She said: “The Government’s move to criminalise fake news impacts freedom of expression, since there is an absence of the actual definition of what can be considered as fake news.” Responding to The Sunday Morning’s query on protecting freedom of expression while combating fake news, she said that, as the first step, media organisations have to educate social media users on suitable practices against the backdrop of criminalisation of fake news under the Penal Code. 


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