MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines Supreme Court said online surveillance by authorities is illegal without a court order and that online libel is a criminal offense, in a ruling Tuesday that allows a cybercrime law to be enforced.
The court ruled on petitions in which opponents argued the 2012 law is unconstitutional and restricts freedom of expression.
The judges found only parts of the law unconstitutional, such as provisions allowing real-time collection of online data by authorities and shutting down a website without due process, court spokesman Theodore Te said.
It upheld libel online as a criminal offense but only the author of a libelous posting can be charged, Te said.
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