New cybercrime law will target criminals, not free speech – Jagdeo

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday assured citizens that recent revelations that the government intends to amend Guyana’s cybercrime laws are not aimed at curbing free speech.

Instead, Jagdeo emphasized that these changes are designed to align the country’s regulations with international standards set forth by the United Nations (UN).

Jagdeo’s remarks join those made by Attorney General Anil Nandlall who first announced the government’s move to update the existing cybercrime legislation, which was originally enacted under the previous APNU+AFC administration.

Jagdeo assured the public that these reforms would not infringe on freedom of expression but rather target criminal activities conducted through digital platforms.

“We believe in free media and people freely expressing their views.

“We are not for censorship on the internet.

“We will promote people’s right to freely express themselves,” Jagdeo said.

He maintained that the goal is not to regulate what people say but to ensure that those who use cyberspace for criminal purposes, such as extorting individuals or exploiting women and children, are held accountable.

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As Nandlall explained, the proposed amendments aim to enhance the legal framework governing cyberspace, making it more consistent with UN model legislation designed to combat cybercrime.

So too Jagdeo stressed that these changes would focus solely on illegal activities, dismissing any concerns about potential overreach into everyday online discourse.

“This is not about going after influencers, social media commentators, or ordinary citizens,” Jagdeo assured.

Jagdeo’s sought to dispel what he said was hysteria surrounding claims of increased government control over the internet.