{"id":3745,"date":"2019-03-06T11:01:41","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T04:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/new-eng\/?p=3745"},"modified":"2026-01-28T12:44:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T06:14:39","slug":"ngos-call-on-parliament-to-consult-on-draft-privacy-law-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/?p=3745","title":{"rendered":"NGOs call on parliament to consult on draft privacy law amendment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Draft Amendment Bill of the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens was published on the Union Parliament website on 25 February 2019, in order to inform the public.<\/p>\n

We welcome the government\u2019s attempt to amend the privacy law. Since its adoption in March 2017, we have consistently called upon on the government to address the privacy law\u2019s weaknesses and fully protect the right to privacy.<\/p>\n

Civil society believe that the privacy law should be amended to promote and protect individuals\u2019 rights. For example, Article 8(f) is a criminal defamation provision that states, \u201cNo one shall unlawfully \u2026 act in any way to slander or harm their reputation,\u201d with the punishment of imprisonment. This violates human rights because:<\/p>\n

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  1. It criminalises expression that informs people about others\u2019 wrongdoing, human rights violations, or corruption, and can be easily misused by powerful people to criminalise others for legitimate expression<\/li>\n
  2. It is unnecessary duplication as defamation is already included in the Penal Code and four other laws<\/li>\n
  3. Criminal defamation is undemocratic and should not be found in democracies<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As well as Article 8(f), civil society have identified many other important provisions that need to be amended.<\/p>\n

    We therefore urge government and parliament:<\/p>\n