Secrecy behind Palestinian cybercrimes law stirs suspicion
Civil society organizations are wondering why the government will not show them the final changes to a draft cybercrimes law expected to be ratified within days.
GAZA CITY, Gaza — Despite widespread objections by Palestinian civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as journalists' and lawyers' unions, a highly controversial cybercrimes draft law appears headed for ratification.
Those who oppose the legislation say it is vague, it threatens to restrict freedom of opinion and the press, and it would impose draconian penalties for violations. At least, those were the problems the CSOs found the last time they saw the draft.
The original law, implemented last year by presidential decree, was an extremely contentious piece of legislation to begin with. After pervasive calls for reform, the unions and civil groups were allowed to propose amendments, which they did during three sessions held in Ramallah between July and November. Attending were representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ramallah government and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the invitation of the PLO and the office of the minister of justice.
But after the meetings, proponents bustled the bill over to President Mahmoud Abbas for ratification without revealing which, if any, amendments had been made.
