Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, officially recorded as Republic Act No. 10175, is a law in the Philippines that was approved on September 12, 2012. It aims to address legal issues concerning online interactions and the Internet in the Philippines. Among the cybercrime offenses included in the bill are cybersquatting, cybersex, child pornography, identity theft, illegal access to data and libel.

Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
Congress of the Philippines
Long title
  • An Act Defining Cybercrime, Prevention, Investigation, Suppression and the Imposition of Penalties Therefor and for Other Purposes
CitationRepublic Act 10175
Territorial extentPhilippines
Enacted byHouse of Representatives
Enacted bySenate
Signed byBenigno Aquino III
SignedSeptember 12, 2012
CommencedOctober 3, 2012
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Representatives
Bill titleSame title as final law
Bill citationHouse Bill 5808
Introduced bySusan Yap (Tarlac 2nd District)
IntroducedFebruary 9, 2012
First readingFebruary 13, 2012
Second readingMay 9, 2012
Third readingMay 21, 2012
Committee reportJoint Explanation of the Conference Committee: 1323–1327 
Second chamber: Senate
Bill titleSame title as final law
Bill citationSenate Bill 2796
Received from the House of RepresentativesMay 3, 2011
Member(s) in chargeEdgardo Angara
First readingJune 27, 2011
Second readingJune 30, 2011
Third readingJuly 10, 2011
Final stages
Reported from conference committeeMay 30, 2012
Conference committee bill passed by House of RepresentativesJune 4, 2012
Conference committee bill passed by SenateJune 26, 2011
Status: In force

While hailed for penalizing illegal acts done via the Internet that were not covered by old laws, the act has been criticized for its provision on criminalizing libel, which is perceived to be a curtailment of the freedom of expression—"cyber authoritarianism". Its use against journalists like Maria Ressa, of Rappler, has drawn international condemnation.

On October 9, 2012, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a temporary restraining order, stopping implementation of the Act for 120 days, and extended it on 5 February 2013 "until further orders from the court."

On February 18, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld most of the sections of the law, including the controversial cyberlibel component.

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