The National People’s Power (NPP) government has not yet decided whether to support the private member’s bill submitted by New Democratic Front MP Ravi Karunanayake to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024.
The Online Safety Act Repeal Bill was recently gazetted, but when asked about the NPP’s position, party General Secretary and MP Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said no decision has been made so far.
“We are currently engaged in election-related activities. We want to discuss this, but we have not had the opportunity yet. We will do it in the coming days,” he stated.
The Online Safety Act, introduced under the administration of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and passed in early 2024, was intended to combat online abuse, cyberbullying, and harmful digital content. However, it faced significant criticism over its vague definitions and the potential threat it posed to freedom of expression.
Several parties, including the then-opposition National People’s Power Party, strongly opposed the Act, warning that it could be misused to suppress critical social media content and silence dissent against the government.
