Republic Act (RA) No. 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

What are the salient features of this act?

1. Illegal Access - The access to the whole or any part of a computer system without right.
2. Illegal Interception - The interception made by technical means without right of any non-public transmission of computer data to, from, or within a computer system including electromagnetic emissions from a computer system carrying such computer data.
3. Data Interference - The intentional or reckless alteration, damaging, deletion or deterioration of computer data, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.
4. System Interference - The intentional alteration or reckless hindering or interference with the functioning of a computer or computer network by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data or computer program, electronic document, or electronic data message, without right or authority, including the introduction or transmission of viruses.
5. Misuse of Devices - The use, production, sale, procurement, importation, distribution, or otherwise making available, without right, of:
6. Cyber-squatting - The acquisition of a domain name over the internet in bad faith to profit, mislead, destroy reputation, and deprive others from registering the same, if such a domain name is:
7. Cybersex - The willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or consideration.
8. Child Pornography - The unlawful or prohibited acts defined and punishable by Republic Act No. 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, committed through a computer system. The penalty to be imposed shall be (1) one degree higher than that provided for in Republic Act No. 9775.
9. Unsolicited Commercial Communications - The transmission of commercial electronic communication with the use of computer system which seek to advertise, sell, or offer for sale products and services are prohibited unless:
10. Libel - The unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.
11. Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of Cybercrime - Any person who willfully abets or aids in the commission of any of the offenses enumerated in this Act shall be held liable.
12. Attempt in the Commission of Cybercrime - Any person who willfully attempts to commit any of the offenses enumerated in R.A. 10175 shall be held liable.

Can you relate some provisions of the law on your past experiences as an IT student?

Based on my past experiences as an IT student I can relate in some of the provisions of the law especially on the illegal access. I have sent a keylogger to a computer of a friend and accessed her files for experimental purposes and on the next day I told her about what I've done so that she will increase her security. Since Pornographic websites are now being blocked by some ISP, I am forced to use VPN to access some websites for research purposes and I think it is still considered illegal access.

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Republic Act No. 8792

What are the Salient Features of this Act?

1. It gives legal recognition of electronic data messages, electronic documents, and electronic signatures. (section 6 to 13)
2. Allows the formation of contracts in electronic form. (section 16)
3. Makes banking transactions done through ATM switching networks absolute once consummated. (section 16)
4. Parties are given the right to choose the type and level of security methods that suit their needs. (section 24)
5. Provides the mandate for the electronic implementation of transport documents to facilitate carriage of goods. This includes documents such as, but not limited to, multi-modal, airport, road, rail, inland waterway, courier, post receipts, transport documents issued by freight forwarders, marine/ocean bill of lading, non-negotiable seaway bill, charter party bill of lading. (section 25 and 26)
6. Mandates the government to have the capability to do e-commerce within 2 years or before June 19, 2002. (section 27)
7. Mandates RPWeb to be implemented. RPWeb is a strategy that intends to connect all government offices to the Internet and provide universal access to the general public. The Department of Transportation and Communications, National Telecommunications Commission, and National Computer Center will come up with policies and rules that shall lead to substantial reduction of costs of telecommunication and Internet facilities to ensure the implementation of RPWeb. (section 28)
8. Made cable, broadcast, and wireless physical infrastructure within the activity of telecommunications. (section 28)
9. Empowers the Department of Trade and Industry to supervise the development of e-commerce in the country. It can also come up with policies and regulations, when needed, to facilitate the growth of e-commerce. (section 29)
10. Provided guidelines as to when a service provider can be liable. (section 30)
11. Authorities and parties with the legal right can only gain access to electronic documents, electronic data messages, and electronic signatures. For confidentiality purposes, it shall not share or convey to any other person. (section 31 and 32) 
12. Hacking or cracking, refers to unauthorized access including the introduction of computer viruses, is punishable by a fine from 100 thousand to maximum commensurating to the damage. With imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years. (section 33)
13. Piracy through the use of telecommunication networks, such as the Internet, that infringes intellectual property rights is punishable. The penalties are the same as hacking. (section 33)
14. All existing laws such as the Consumer Act of the Philippines also applies to e-commerce transactions. (section 33) 

Can you relate some provisions of the Law on your past experiences as an IT student?

Yes, I downloaded pirated system and software. Piracy through the use of telecommunication networks, such as the Internet, that infringes intellectual property rights is punishable. The penalties are the same as hacking. (section 33). 

Info-graphic about this Law.

Source: http://digitalfilipino.com/salient-features-of-republic-act-8792-the-e-commerce-law/