Stop the E-Transactions Law
We’ve written an email in Arabic and English (below) to send to friends and colleagues to try to stop passage of the E-Transactions law tomorrow in the plenary session of Parliament. We encourage you to copy-paste and post it widely. It’s crucial that we respond immediately. This isn’t an Internet joke, as Maya Zankoul drew today.
———–
Dear Friend,
We need you to ACT NOW to stop the E-Transactions law.
Tomorrow, Parliament is scheduled to vote on a new E-Transactions law that could have terrible implications for the Lebanese economy and for professional and personal privacy. To date, private sector and civil society have not been allowed to comment on the the law.
Among the articles of concern are:
- Article 92, saying anyone providing online services must apply for a license. Result: More paperwork, more bureaucracy, more delays, less revenue.
- Article 82, allowing for the warrantless search and seizure of financial, managerial, and electronic files, including hard drives, computers, etc. Result: The government has pre-approval to seize your company and personal assets and information, without cause.
- Article 70, establishing the Electronic Signature & Services Authority, a new regulatory and licensing body with practically unchecked powers. Result: Another agency, who can make or break your organization at their whim.
Thanks, Maya, for drawing about the issue!
More on why you should stop the vote.
We may need some regulations on doing online business in Lebanon. But, unless the key stakeholders can comment on the law, it will be one-sided, flawed, and dangerous to the economic prospects of Lebanon and the privacy of your daily life.
ACT NOW! Many deputies are rallying against this law but want to hear your voice. Ask your MP to postpone the vote on the E-Transactions Law, pending a public review.
Here are quick and easy ways you can help:
- Call your Member of Parliament and urge them to postpone the vote, pending a public review period.
- Forward this message to your colleagues, family, and friends—anyone who uses the Internet will be affected!
- Post on the Facebook Pages of your MP, calling on them to postpone the vote, pending a public review period.
- Join the Stop This Law Facebook Page.
- If you’re a journalist or blogger, consider writing a short post highlighting the potential pitfalls of the law.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME GOES HERE!
4 Comments
http://migh.info/?p=51
here is my part… hope it helps
thanks for effort you putting to spread the word
Who’s the 70 year old asshole who wrote this stupid law and is in control of our pathetic lives in this pathetic country? it’s one more reason for the young to migrate!
Let’s not stereotype! i know some really high-tech 70 years old people!
I wish you can do something about it, but notice that such a law is only a sequel, didn’t you detect the condition mentioned in the general terms & conditions for DSL users under “Usage of the Service, section 4”, in which the customer agrees not to use the service for any kind of services not authorized by the” Minister of Telecommunication”? So please don’t be stunned, as more restrictions are to follow as long as people give a Minister the right to solely control them according to his own norms and culture?
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