Cabinet Co-Spokesman affirms Online Safety Bill aims for regulation without limitation

Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena 

By Charumini de Silva

The Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena underscored the intent behind the Online Safety Bill, emphasising that it seeks to regulate content that is inauthentic, extremist, abusive, or hateful, rather than imposing constraints on freedom of expression. 

Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing, he outlined that the primary goal of the Bill is to safeguard the well-being of the community and national security by preventing the dissemination of harmful content. 

In reference to measures taken by economic powerhouses like China, where certain social media platforms have been banned, Gunawardena clarified that the Government’s approach differs. “We are not looking to impede freedom of expression, but rather to ensure responsible use of online platforms,” he added.

Addressing concerns about the impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) heavily reliant on social media for promotion, he assured that the Bill is designed to strike a balance. It aims to establish governance in line with principles akin to those governing intellectual property and branding ethics, rather than restricting legitimate activities. 

Gunawardena also said that the focus should be on the content and merits of a Cabinet paper, rather than who submits it. “As long as the majority of Cabinet Ministers approve it, the submitter should be of secondary concern. This nuanced approach is geared towards striking a balance between regulatory oversight and individual freedoms in the online sphere,” he said.