Legislation to control online news under discussion: Govt

• disinformation campaign being carried out on the Port City Economic Commission Bill on social media
• countries like Singapore have a Prevention of Online Falsehood and Manipulation Act. 
• freedom of expression cannot be abused

By Easwaran Rutnam

The Government says the proposed fake news law is currently being discussed by the Cabinet.   

Justice Minister Ali Sabry said that freedom of expression cannot be abused.   

He noted that countries like Singapore have a Prevention of Online Falsehood and Man

ipulation Act.   
The Justice Minister said that even Malaysia and India have controls over fake news.   
Ali Sabry said that the new online laws in Sri Lanka will ensure National security and unity among communities and public privacy are protected and disinformation on development programmes are discouraged.   

He said that at the moment some people get away by spreading fake news. The Justice Minister also said that of the social media profiles in Sri Lanka more than 15 percent are fake.  The Minister was speaking at an online media briefing yesterday on the Port City Economic Commission Bill.   

He noted that there was a disinformation campaign being carried out on the Port City Economic Commission Bill on social media. 

• There was a disinformation campaign being carried out on the Port City Economic Commission Bill on social media