Cabinet approves revised Online Safety Bill to be gazetted

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the publication of the revised Online Safety Bill in the government gazette and its subsequent presentation to Parliament. 

The Department of Government Information (DGI) announced that following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the draft “Online Safety Bill” and its subsequent approval in Parliament, the Security of Online Methods Act No. 9 of 2024 is now in effect.

The Government states prior to the bill being passed in Parliament, concerns were raised by experts in the field about amendments to certain sections of the bill, but there was no possibility of including such amendment proposals in the bill at the committee stage. 

The draft bill, prepared by the Legal Draftsman and approved by the Attorney General, has now received Cabinet approval following the proposal tabled by the State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon.

The revised bill will be published in the government gazette and subsequently presented to Parliament for further consideration.