Allan Bird Says Cyber Law Misused to Shield PNG Members of Parliament
Papua New Guinea East Sepik Governor Allan Bird has criticised the enforcement of the Cyber Crime Act, saying it has drifted away from its true intent of protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly women and girls.
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| Allan Bird Says Cyber Law Misused to Shield PNG Members of Parliament |
Bird said the law was initially conceived by the Special Parliamentary Committee on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to address online abuse, especially the deliberate sharing of explicit or compromising content to humiliate others. “The Act was designed to stop harassment and bullying that often targeted women and girls,” he said.
He explained that many victims faced devastating consequences, with some cases resulting in depression and even suicide. “This law was about saving lives, not saving reputations,” Bird noted.
The Governor expressed concern that law enforcement authorities were now using the Cyber Crime Act to shield politicians from criticism. “It is wrong for Police to use the Act to protect Members of Parliament,” he said. “MPs are not meant to be a protected species.”
Bird maintained that if politicians feel wronged or defamed, they have the right to pursue legal action through the existing defamation framework rather than misuse a law intended for vulnerable citizens.
He urged authorities to return the Cyber Crime Act to its original purpose and ensure that justice serves those who truly need it — not those in positions of power.
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