The Online Safety Bill 2018 is now ready for debate in parliament following the tabling of the report of the bill by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights.

Committee Chairperson Ashneel Sudhakar highlighted in the report that the bill seeks to promote online safety to increase awareness and education on responsible online behavior and the use and provision of personal information.

He also highlighted that the committee recommends that individuals be fined upto $20,000 or face upto 5 years imprisonment or both and entities be fined up to $100,000 or 7 years imprisonment or both if they are found breaching the law. Under the Online Safety Bill, the maximum fine of $50,000 or imprisonment for a term of 7 years or both applies for individuals while in the case of a body corporate, a fine of $100,000 or 7 years imprisonment or both applies.

Sudhakar says that as citizens we cannot allow abuse of freedom of speech as an excuse to cause discomfort or harm to others.