Sunday, Dec 16, 2007    Text size: 

Called "An act prohibiting cyber sex, prostitution and pornography in the Philippines, providing penalties for its violation and for other purposes,” or House Bill (HB) 3190, the legislation would prohibit cybersex — defined as sexually explicit online activity between two or more individuals — as well as prostitiution or forms of pornography broadcast on the Internet.

Lazatin’s proposal calls for any financier, manager, producer or promoter of a “cybersex operation” to be penalized with jail terms of from 20-30 years, and fines from more than $12,000, but not more than $25,000.

Other offenders would be subjected to possible jail terms of between 5-10 years and fines of $6,000 to $12,000.

Non-resident aliens convicted of violating regulations would face the same penalties and fines with deportation immediately following completion of their jail term, and would be barred also from reentering the country.

Offenders would also risk loss of any property used in the commission of related crimes.

In the bill, “cybersex” was defined by Lazatin as “ any form of Interactive prostitution, pornography and the performance of a sexual act or other obscene or indecent act, between or among those belonging to the same or opposite sexes, using, as primary channel, the cyberspace.”

Lazatin said also, in additional notes to the House, “Given the numerous researches and studies made, pointing to a higher correlation of exposure to pornography, prostitution, and the incidence of sex crimes, there is an urgent necessity to intensify the campaign against cybersex operations, because, if left undeterred, society will, doubtlessly, suffer its detrimental effect.”