Online Saftey bill: AIC refutes Minister’s remarks

An Asia-based collective of leading technology companies raised severe concerns about the proposed Online Safety bill that is currently being debated in the Parliament despite severe criticisms levelled against it by Opposition parties and civil society groups. 

Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an industry association comprising leading Internet and technology companies refuted certain assertions made in the statement read by the Minister of Public Security in Parliament concerning the Online Safety Bill today. 

“The Minister’s statement does not accurately reflect the substantial contributions that the AIC has made throughout the legislative process, which include comprehensive submissions as well as engagements such as hosting representatives from the Ministry of Public Security at the annual Online Safety Forum organised by the AIC in Singapore,” according to a statement issued by Jeff Paine, Managing Director of AIC today. 

These engagements and representations eventually culminated with our last submission to the Ministry on 8 January 2024. Despite our commitment to constructive collaboration, the AIC has not been privy to proposed amendments to the bill, the statement stressed. 

“We unequivocally stand by our position that the Online Safety Bill, in its current form, is unworkable and would undermine potential growth and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka’s digital economy. We firmly believe that for the Bill to align with global best practices, extensive revisions are imperative,”