Politics

Government is compelled to control social media with a view to preventing hate speech, insults and provocations through amending the Online Safety Act and by introducing new regulations, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today. The Minister said the Public Security Ministry, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health and Media will work together to bring in appropriate amendments to the Online Safety Act. Accordingly, he said a committee headed by Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, representatives of Public Security, Justice, Media and Health ministries, a foreign ministry representative, legal draftsman, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the police has been appointed to collect ideas pertaining to amendments to the Online Safety Bill from relevant parties. In addition, the Minister said some steps have been taken to prevent cybercrimes by the cybercrimes unit of the CID, and the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Team (SLCERT). “Social media service providers such as TikTok, Telegram and Facebook have been alerted to such crimes, while the Sri Lankan authorities often obtain information on cybercrimes from these service providers,” the Minister added. He said these providers have already provided a contact portal, which will be used to collect information and issue notices. In addition, the Minister said the police will act on cybercrimes only when it is clear that such a crime has taken place.