The Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No.

10175 or “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” which addresses crimes

committed against and through computer systems on 12 September 2012. It includes penal substantive rules, procedural rules
and also rules on international cooperation.

Cybercrime Prevention act of Philippines

The Fundamentals of the Act Cybercrime also called computer crime is the use of a computer as an instrument to further illegal
ends such as committing fraud trafficking child pornography, intellectual property violations, stealing identities or violation of
privacy. The difference between traditional criminal offences from cybercrime is the use of the computer in committing such
offences.

To combat and prevent cybercrime, the government of the Philippines introduced the Republic Act No.101175 or Cyber
Prevention Act of 2012. This Act was signed by the President of the Philippines Mr. Benigno Aquino on September 12th of
2012. The original goal of this Act was to penalize acts like cybersex, child pornography, identity theft etc. 
The key provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
There are sixteen types of cybercrime covered under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. They are:

Illegal Access: 
Access to a computer or any application without permission.

Penalty: Prison mayor (imprisonment of six years and 1 day up to 12 years) or a fine of at
least Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000) up to a maximum amountcommensurate to the damage incurred

Illegal Interception:
Interception of any non-public communication of computer data to, from, or within a computer system by an unauthorized
person.

Data Interference: 
Unauthorized tampering with, destroying, deleting, or deteriorating computer data, electronic documents, or electronic data
messages, as well as the introduction or transmission of viruses. This provision can also cover authorized activity if the person’s
behavior went beyond the agreed-upon scope and resulted in the damages listed in this provision.

System Interference: 
Unauthorized interference with the operation of a computer or computer network, including the introduction or transmission of
viruses, by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering, or suppressing computer data or programmes,
electronic data messages, or by deleting, deteriorating, altering, or suppressing them. This provision can also cover authorized
activity if the person’s behavior went beyond the agreed-upon scope and resulted in the damages listed in this provision.

Misuse of devices: 
Unauthorized use, possession, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, or otherwise making available of
gadgets, computer programmes, or other materials developed or adapted for committing any of the acts listed in Republic Act
10175. Unauthorized use of a computer password, access code, or similar data that allows the entire or a portion of a computer
system to be accessed with the intent of using it to perpetrate any of the offences listed in Republic Act 10175.
Cybersquatting: 
Acquisition of a domain name in bad faith on the internet to profit, deceive, harm reputation, and prevent others from
registering it. This includes trademarks that were already registered at the time of registration, names of people other than the
registrant, and trademarks that were purchased with intellectual property interests in them. Those who get domain names of
prominent brands and individuals who  in turn are used to damage their reputation can be sued under this provision. Note that
freedom of expression and infringement on trademarks or names of persons are usually treated separately. A party can exercise
freedom of expression without necessarily violating the trademarks of a brand or the names of persons.

Computer related Forgery:

 Unauthorized input, alteration, or deletion of computer data that results in inauthentic data with the intent that it be considered
or acted on for legal purposes as if it were authentic, regardless of whether the data is directly readable and intelligible; or the
act of knowingly using computer data that is the product of computer-related forgery as defined here  to perpetuate .

Computer-related Fraud: 
Unauthorized access to, alteration of, or deletion of computer data or programmes, or interference with the operation of a
computer system, with the purpose to cause damage.

Computer-related Identity Theft: 

Unauthorized acquisition, use, abuse, transfer, possession, change, or deletion of an individual’s identifying information,
whether natural or legal.

Cybersex: 
For favour or consideration, willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious
presentation of sexual organs or sexual activity via a computer system.

Child Pornography: 
Unlawful or banned activities conducted through a computer system, as defined and punished by Republic Act No. 9775 or the
Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.

Libel: 
Acts of libel that are illegal or forbidden under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and are committed using a
computer system or any other similar means that may be created in the future. Penal Code Revision According to Article 355
Libel is defined as defamation of character by writings or other means. Libel committed by writing, printing, lithography,
engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any other similar means is
punishable by prison correctional for the minimum and medium periods, or a fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in
addition to any civil action that the offended party may bring.

Aiding or Abetting in the commission of cybercrime:

 Anyone who knowingly assists or abets the conduct of any of the offences listed in this Act will be held accountable.

Attempt in the commission of cybercrime: 

Any person who willfully attempts to commit any of the offences enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.
All crimes defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through and with
the use of information and communications technologies shall be covered by the relevant provisions of this Act.

Corporate Liability:
When any of the punishable acts herein defined are knowingly committed on behalf of or for the benefit of a juridical person by
a natural person acting either individually or as part of an organ of the juridical person who has a leading position within, based
on: (a) a power of representation of the juridical person provided the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; or
(b) an authority to make decisions on behalf of the juridical person. It also includes the commission of any of the penal acts
made possible due to the lack of supervision, provided that the act committed falls within the scope of such authority; or(c) an
authority to exercise control inside the juridical person.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

Advantages
 Cybersex, Cyberbullying, Child pornography are now offences and such offenders can be punished. The children’s
rights are protected by this Act.
 All kinds of businesses using the internet as a medium are protected by this Act.
 Provisions of this act now define the offence of cybersquatting and this deters people from the act of cybersquatting.
 Provisions that penalizes online identity theft. This provision protects the individual’s privacy and its protection.
Disadvantages
 Ambiguity in the terms given in the Act such as the term online libel is not defined anywhere which can lead to
different interpretations. Ambiguity can be seen in the provision of real-time data collection.
 The ambiguity in the Act may lead to the freedom of speech. The ambiguities like the absence of a proper definition
of online libel may lead to confusion. Sometimes the expression of some truth may be misinterpreted as Libel.
People may be restrained from expressing themselves.
 The implementation and execution of this Act yearly cost a huge cost to the government.