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The Asian Broad Bans:

This article explores the complex series of laws and regulations in Asian countries that restrict freedom of expression on the internet, including censorship, defamation, sedition, and anti-terrorism laws. It highlights cases of online writers being detained and provides relevant links for further information.

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The Asian Broad Bans:

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  1. The Asian Broad Bans: Laws affecting freedom of expression on the Internet

  2. BURMA • Computer Science Development Law 1996 • Web Regulation 2000 • Emergency Provision Act 1950 • Official Secrets Act 1923 • State Protection Law 1975

  3. CHINA • Complex series of laws and regulations that control the access to and publication of material online. • Over 60 online writers have been detained. • Most of them were imprisoned and charged under the Criminal Code. • pornography on the Internet (State Council Order No.195, 1 February 1996) • Other laws: Law on Protection of State Secret

  4. INDIA and PAKISTAN • India • IT Act (2000) regulates e-commerce, hacking, privacy • Yahoo website was blocked for promoting sedition. • Pakistan • censors “anti-Islamic” and “blasphemous” websites. • In March 2006, Supreme Court directed government to block internet sites displaying sacrilegious cartoons. • Laws that can be used: Penal Code, Maintenance of Public Order ordinance, Anti-terrorism law

  5. MALAYSIA • Communications and Multimedia Act • Penal Code/Blasphemy • Internal Security Act • Official Secrets Act • Sedition Act • Defamation Act • College and University Act

  6. SINGAPORE • Singapore's Internet content regulation depends primarily on access controls (such as requiring political sites to register for a license) and legal pressures (such as defamation lawsuits and the threat of imprisonment) • Telecommunication Act • Bloggers registration with theMedia Development Authority (MDA) if they want to openly and regularly defend a political line. • During election: no online discussion about politics at all. • Other laws: Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act, Internal Security Act

  7. VIETNAM • Internet Law • web content is extensively censored and email is monitored • 7 cyber-dissidents are in prison; most accused of spying and sentenced to up to 12 years in prison. • Criminal Code: spying (Article 80), propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Article 88); illegally using information in computer networks (Article 226) • Various decrees and directives

  8. Other Asian Countries • Bangladesh: Official Secrets Act, Special Power Act, Defamation • Cambodia: UNTAC Penal Code, draft Penal Code (defamation and insult) • East Timor: draft Penal Code (criminal defamation) • Japan: Public Offices Election Law • Indonesia: criminal and civil defamation laws; Anti-terrorism law; draft Antipornography and pornaction

  9. Other Asian Countries • Nepal: revised TADO • Philippines: draft Anti-Terrorism bill, Penal Code (incitement to rebellion or insurrectiondefamation) • South Korea: law on viewing and distributing materials on the Internet, National Security Law • Sri Lanka: contempt of court • Thailand: Defamation laws in Criminal and Civil Codes.

  10. Conclusion • Bloggers and on-line media are vulnerable to legal prosecution. • Defamation, sedition, OSA, ISA, anti-terrorism laws can be used to repress on-line FOE.

  11. Want to know more? • http://www.article19.org/publications/regions/asia/index.html

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