THE ONLINE SAFETY ACT

NO.9 OF 2024
(CONSTITUTIONAL LAW)

Jurisprudence – First Assignment

Group 9
CONTENTS

1. Brief Introduction to the Online Safety Act

a) Historical Background
b) Current Status

2. Theoretical (Jurisprudential) Basis for the Online Safety Act

3. The Need for Review

4. Jurisprudential Theories for Critical Analysis

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1
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE
ONLINE SAFETY ACT
(a) Historical Background
(b) Current Status
3
BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE
ONLINE SAFETY ACT

Historical Background Current Status

• Easter Sunday Attack, • Debate

COVID-19, Aragalaya
• Arrest

• The Necessity for • Focus to the Online

Regulation Safety Act

• Post-Enactment Judicial
• Global Context Review

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2
THEORETICAL JURISPRUDENTIAL BASIS
FOR THE ONLINE SAFETY ACT
The Natural School, The Positivist
School & The Sociological School
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 THE NATURAL SCHOOL OF
JURISPRUDENCE
LORD DEVELIN ON LEGAL MORALISM

▰ Determination of the Regulatory

Framework
▰ Implicit Re-introduction of
Criminal Defamation

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 THE POSITIVIST SCHOOL OF
JURISPRUDENCE
THOMAS HOBBES ON THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
THEORY

▰ State Responsibility to protect the

general public and prevent online
crime
▰ Restriction of Freedom of Expression
and Information

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 THE SOCIOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF
JURISPRUDENCE

▰ Roscoe Pound
▰ Balancing the competing interests with the
least sacrifice

▰ Safe Online Eviornment v The Restriction of

Rights that are not absolute
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3
THE NEED FOR REVIEW

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THE NEED FOR REVIEW

Cotemporary Direct Implications – Indirect Implications

Relevancy Weaponization of laws The Bill will have a
Arbitrarily restricts the to hinder dissent - detrimental impact on
main mode of media for participation, Sri Lanka’s digital
expression accountability, the right economy and avenues
to information and the for employment online
right to protest,
individual development,
freedom of thought and
conscience, artistic
expression, and press
freedom hindered
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4
JURISPRUDENTIAL THEORIES FOR
CRITICAL ANALYSIS

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JURISPRUDENTIAL THEORIES FOR
CRITICAL ANALYSISSOCIOLOGIC
AL FEMINIST
JURISPRUDEN LEGAL
POSITIVISM CE THEORY
1 3 5

4
2

REALISM MARXISM

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 REFERENCES

Constitutions

1. The Constitution of Sri Lanka

Legislation

2. Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024

Judicial Decisions

3. Online Safety Bill SC SD No. 66-120/2023

Journal Articles

4. Dworkin R, ‘Lord Devlin and the Enforcement of Morals’ (1966) 75(6) The Yale Law

Books

5. Ratnapala S, Jurisprudence (2nd edn, OUP 2013)

6. Wacks R, Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory (3rd edn, OUP 2012)
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 REFERENCES

Reports and Other Secondary Sources

1. Balendra S, 'Falsehood vs. Free Speech: Competing Narratives of the Online Safety Bill'
2. Dullewe M, 'Online Safety Act Sparks Continued Criticism' (The Morning, 10 February 2024)
<https://themorning.lk//articles/jcxbEihqxcdUYH58qHqY> accessed 13 February 2024
3. Ratnayake N and Lafir T, 'Sri Lanka's Proposed Online Safety Bill: Regulation, but at What Cost?'(Media
Diversity Institute, 9 December 2023) https://www.media-diversity.org/sti-lankas-proposed-online-safety-bill-
regulation-but-at-what-cost/ accessed 13 February 2024
4. Goonesekara R, Report of the Committe to Advise on the Reform of Laws Affecting Media Freedom and Freedom
of Expression (1996)
5. (The Daily Express, 7 December 2023) <https://dailyexpress.lk/rights-freedom/laws/25538/> accessed 12
February 2024
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“ Thank You…

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