Celebrities react to cybercrime law
Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 got a couple of “thumbs down” reaction from local celebrities.
The stars express that the law may be taking away freedom of expression.
APO Hiking Society member Jim Paredes strongly opposes the cybercrime law. He tweeted on Monday, October 1, “Mr President, Senators, Congressmen, MATAUHAN KAYO. No to cybercrime bill.”
Maxene Magalona also expressed the same sentiment, saying that social media is an important tool for expression. She tweeted, “I understand that the #CyberCrimeLaw means well.. But the people have fought too hard for freedom of speech for it to be taken away.”
Singer Julie Anne San Jose also questioned the bill. “Having someone who takes away your freedom is one of the worst things i could think of. We wouldn't want that, right? #NoToCyberCrimeLaw,” she tweeted.
While TV host Bianca Gonzalez is also against “cyber pornography and human trafficking,” she thinks that Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 must be revised.
“I'm also against cyber pornography and human trafficking. but i stand for everyone's freedom of expression. #revise #studynewmedia #freedom. ah, but new media is exactly that, new. we should all figure out or understand this first, then we can use/abuse/regulate,” she tweeted.
Anne Curtis, who now has over three million followers on Twitter, also expressed her sentiments.
“Whatever happened to Freedom of speech? Having an opinion? Expressing oneself? These are our own accounts. Our property. Our lives. And now if we share our opinions we can get into trouble with the law? Put behind bars? Fined a ridiculous amount even? The cybercrime act does have some responsible points that should be included & implemented BUT going to extent of having a law that takes away a freedom we should all rightfully have just seems wrong to me,” Anne tweeted.
Although celebrities are often targets of online attacks and criticisms, Anne hopes the law will be revised.
“Even if I know that as a celebrity I'd probably even benefit from the act but at the end of the day i'm still a citizen of this country we should all have equal rights. I just feel its so one sided. I hope they consider REVISING the crybercrime act,” Anne tweeted.
‘I am for Cybercrime Law’
Meanwhile, Kapatid star Sharon Cuneta, niece of actress Helen Gamboa proudly supports RA 10175. “I'm all for the punishment of cybercrime. Some people have just gone too far,” she tweeted.
Sharon added: “If you're a decent person to begin with, WHAT'S THERE TO FEAR? Ano yon, ang pumiyok, guilty?... “Ako ok lang freedom of speech pero magpakilala ka. Madaming nasasaktan kasi nagtatago sa ibang identity ang iba at tumatapang. Wala nang privacy ang mga tao. Pag may free speech dapat may responsibility. Eh ang iba parang di na tayo human beings wala nang delicadeza. Dapat lang ma-punish ang mga naninirang puri. Pag sinira mo ang pangalan ng isang taong wala naman masamang ginagawa, para mo na syang piñata”.
