In light of criticisms that the government’s proposed amendments to Guyana’s cybercrime laws may infringe on the use of free speech, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has reassured the public that the public can rest easy.
The announcement regarding the amendments was recently made by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, where he noted that the proposed amendments will target the use of social media. In response, concerns were raised across various sections of the media regarding the possible targeting of social media influencers and how the new laws may take away the right to free speech online.
During his press conference this afternoon, Jagdeo emphasized that the updated legislation, which will soon be tabled, is aimed at addressing cyber-related criminal activities, not regulating online speech.
“We believe in free media, and we believe in people freely expressing their views on the internet” he said. He added, “We are not for censorship on the internet. We will promote people’s rights to freely express themselves.”
Jagdeo explained that the upcoming changes to the legislation are part of an effort to align with the international standards set by the United Nations (UN), particularly concerning cybercrime. He clarified that these reforms would not restrict free speech, even when directed against the government. He added that even when people are critical of the government online they are well within their rights once their comments are not incriminating. He further noted, “This is not about censoring anyone. We believe in freedom of speech and expression.”
The Vice President was clear, however, that while the law will not infringe upon free speech, it will go after those who break the law through illegal activities online. The legislation, according to Jagdeo, is meant to target offenses such as extortion, blackmail, and the exploitation of women and children.
“Its for only people who do things like extort people, or people who exploit women by taking photos and blackmailing them for all sorts of reasons, people who exploit children and all these things, these are important things for us, we are not going to allow that to happen in our country,” the Vice President said.
Concerns about the impact on social media influencers were also addressed. Jagdeo reassured those with significant online followings that they have nothing to worry about, as long as they adhere to legal norms. He reassured that as. As long as their utterances fall within the boundaries of free speech and freedom of expression, they are not at risk.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall had previously outlined the government’s intentions, stressing that the law is designed to prosecute those using online platforms to spread falsehoods, commit slander, or engage in other illegal behavior.
In his latest remarks, Nandlall reiterated that the updated legislation will serve the public good, targeting those who misuse digital platforms for illegal means. “Once the updated legislation is implemented, it will be applied for the public good and for the benefit of all law-abiding citizens,” he stated.
“Those who use their platforms for nefarious purposes have reason to fear,” Nandlall said.
