EFFECTS OF CYBERCRIME IN THE PHILIPPINES, by Anna Simon and Sarah Santos I.

Negative Effects of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, by Anna Simon Computers have become an essential part in a persons life. Those gadgets, along with the internet, have enabled men to overcome distances. They allow people to communicate with each other even if they are a thousand miles apart. Those two have also become vital instruments in sharing information to the public. With the computer and the internet becoming useful tools to numerous aspects, the Cybercrime Prevention Act became quite a hot topic when it was first made known to the public. Numerous responses came from the Filipino citizens. People quickly took action to stop this bill from being approved due to its negative effects. Although the Cybercrime Prevention Act has positive effects, it also has a number of negative effects which made people disapprove the passing of that bill. The first is that it criminalizes the act of posting statements that destroy a person, most especially a government officials reputation, in websites like Twitter or Facebook. That is considered libel and it does not matter if one is speaking the truth or not. Second, would be under Section 19 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, which stated that when a computer data is prima facie found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act, the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall issue an order to restrict or block access to such computer. That means due process is no longer required and the DOJ can proceed and force a person to discontinue publishing his/her posts. Lastly, if the law is put into effect, there will be severe penalties. Getting caught for online libel can get a person a maximum of 12 years in prison and a fine with a maximum of Php 1, 000, 000. II. Advantages of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, by Sarah Santos As mentioned earlier, there are also advantages of the Cybercrime Prevention Act to us Filipino netizens especially for the Facebook and/or Twitter users, bloggers and journalists who in the first place is really affected by this law. Under Section 2 of the said act, The State recognizes the increasingly vital role of information and communications technology (ICT) as enablers of key industries such as, banking, broadcasting, business process outsourcing, electronic commerce and telecommunications, and as a driving force for the nations overall social and economic development. It will also benefit our economy. Senator Edgardo J. Angara, the author of the law, said, "The Cybercrime Prevention Act lays down a comprehensive legal framework for the detection, investigation and suppression of cybercrimes. Cybercrimes are the abusive use of a computer in attacking other computers, spreading viruses for example, in committing traditional crime such as fraud and illegal gambling, storing illegal or stolen information, and most especially, in committing internet libel. This act or law aims to suppress these cybercrimes which makes it good. It will also prevent the cases of hacking of accounts, uphold copyrights or ownerships of software developers and on the top of which is to stop pornography and cybersex. This act will promote peace over the internet, make us, Filipino netizens, be more responsible in using computers and internet, protect not only our political leaders but also us, and develop our society and economy.