Disini Ruling Limits Cyber-Libel Liability to Original Authors

• •Cyber-libel liability is limited to the original author of the content.
• •Sharing or reacting to libelous content does not incur criminal liability.
• •Penalties for cyber-libel include imprisonment and fines, one degree higher than ordinary libel.

The Disini v. Secretary of Justice ruling has clarified that under Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, only the original author of a libelous statement can be prosecuted for cyber-libel. This decision, stemming from a Supreme Court case, invalidated the prosecution of individuals who merely share or react to such content online. The ruling emphasizes that actions like likes, shares, and comments do not constitute cyber-libel. The law remains in effect, with penalties for original authors including imprisonment and fines. The decision aims to protect freedom of expression while holding original authors accountable. This legal framework is critical for understanding online speech and its limitations in the Philippines.