{"id":7390,"date":"2024-04-08T23:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T20:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/?p=7390"},"modified":"2024-04-08T23:00:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T20:00:15","slug":"reprehensible-behaviour-on-internet-should-be-a-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/?p=7390","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Reprehensible behaviour on internet should be a crime\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Attorney-general George Savvides on Monday called on parliament to pass a bill which would criminalise what he called \u201creprehensible behaviour\u201d on the internet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Speaking at a lecture at the University of Cyprus, he said \u201cit is unthinkable that some actions and behaviours, which, when done in the real world in public spaces are criminally punishable, are not equally criminal offences when done over the internet.
\nThe bill in question was submitted to parliament in 2020 and would criminalise the posting of written or illustrated messages containing \u201cgrossly offensive, obscene, or threatening content<\/strong>\u201d.
\nSavvides said that in addition, \u201cthe posting of a message with false content intended to cause annoyance, harassment, or concern\u201d would also be criminalised were the bill to become law.
\nThis clause is important, he said, as \u201cthe ability to use the internet also brings multiple negative effects related to the rapid distribution of fake news, misinformation, and manipulation of the public, as well as the interference with individuals\u2019 privacy.\u201d
\nOn the progress of the bill, he said \u201cI believe that the time has come for parliament to take that brave step and vote for it<\/strong>.\u201d
\nHe then moved onto the matter of freedom of expression, saying it is \u201cvery important as it focuses on the individual\u2019s personality and how this develops in one\u2019s participation in public debate and in shaping public opinion.\u201d
\nHe added, \u201cat the same time, it is the tool with which one can criticise public authorities.\u201d
\nHe noted that freedom of expression is enshrined in Article 19 of the Republic of Cyprus\u2019 constitution, as well as in Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), to which every European country except for Russia and Belarus is a signatory<\/strong>.
\nHe said the state \u201chas an obligation to offer effective protective mechanisms for writers and journalists, so as to create a favourable environment for public debate, offering interested parties the opportunity to express their ideas and opinions without fear, even if those opinions oppose the positions of official authorities or of public opinion.\u201d
\nHe then touched on the matter of restrictions relating to legal cases, which assure and enshrine the right to a fear trial<\/strong>.
\nThese restrictions, he said, \u201caim, on the one hand, to avoid any prejudice or pressure from public opinion towards the parties concerned, and, on the other, to shield the public\u2019s trust in the institutions and the administration of justice.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Attorney-general George Savvides called on parliament to pass a bill criminalizing “reprehensible behavior” on the internet, including posting messages with offensive, obscene, or threatening content. The bill also aims to address the spread of fake news and misinformation online. Savvides emphasized the importance of freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution and the European Convention of Human Rights. He also highlighted the need for restrictions in legal cases to ensure a fair trial.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3492,21,3,203,4540,676,250,3330,115,2828,109,5617,3755,582,4510,4442,3331,5280,5618,634,1799,3775,2847,3840,4041,3225,2599,1812,19,3984,1906,1681,832,1774,18],"class_list":["post-7390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyprus","tag-bill","tag-crime","tag-cyprus","tag-environment","tag-freedom-of-expression","tag-george-savvides","tag-google","tag-google-news","tag-human-rights","tag-institutions","tag-internet","tag-internet-criminalization","tag-journalists","tag-justice","tag-lecture","tag-message","tag-news","tag-offences","tag-offensive-content","tag-opinion","tag-parliament","tag-pressure","tag-privacy","tag-progress","tag-public-opinion","tag-republic-of-cyprus","tag-restrictions","tag-rights","tag-russia","tag-threatening","tag-trial","tag-trust","tag-university-of-cyprus","tag-vote","tag-world"],"acf":{"keyphrase":"","keywords":"","sourceimg":"","country-category":""},"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Reprehensible 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