MANILA, Philippines - The bill seeking to provide more teeth in the prevention of cybercrimes is still pending before Congress despite the recent sex scandals involving prominent personalities and the proliferation of illegal activities on the Internet. The senators have come up with Senate Bill 3553 based on Committee Report No. 770 or the proposed act defining cybercrime and providing for the prevention, investigation and imposition of penalties for various violations. Under the bill known as “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2009,” offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems would include illegal access, illegal interception, data interference, and system interference. Misuse of devices will also be punishable along with computer-related offenses such as forgery and fraud. Content-related offenses include cybersex where “any person who establishes, maintains or controls, directly or indirectly, any operation for sexual activity or arousal with the aid of or through the use of a computer system, for a favor or consideration” will be punished, and child pornography. Penalties proposed under the bill include fines ranging from P200,000 to P1 million for individuals and up to P10 million for corporations, plus imprisonment.

To our sisters and brothers in the Philippines: how do you think this will affect you? Is there anything the rest of us can do to help you out?