Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala announced that the Internet Security Act will now be enforced strictly with the aim of preventing the rise of online crimes that directly threaten the safety of individuals.
He stated that the main purpose of this measure is to stop people, especially young people, from falling into harmful and dangerous situations through social media networks.
The Minister explained that the spread of illegal activities through social media has contributed heavily to increased violence and unrest in society.
These activities include extortion, publishing false and misleading information, altering women’s photographs using artificial intelligence (AI), and distributing harmful content such as pornography to school children.
Minister Wijepala revealed that even his own photograph had been altered using artificial intelligence and circulated on social media, adding that the Criminal Investigation Department has already launched a full investigation into the incident.
He stressed that those engaging in such acts will face strict legal action under the Internet Security Act.
The Minister further explained that the purpose of such legislation is to provide protection for all users, especially children, from illegal and dangerous content, by ensuring strict regulation of online platforms and their digital material.
He also pointed out that many countries across the world have already passed similar laws, strengthening protections against online crimes, and Sri Lanka too is now moving forward with strong measures to safeguard citizens from harm caused by the misuse of social media.
