Minister Ananda Wijepala Vows to Strictly Enforce Online Safety Act to Combat Cybercrime

Colombo-Sri Lanka - Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has stated that the Online Safety Act will be strictly enforced to prevent the growth of cybercrimes that pose a threat to personal safety. The minister explained that a primary goal of the act is to protect various individuals, particularly the youth, from falling victim to dangerous situations on social media.

According to the minister, a significant rise in violence and social unrest can be attributed to illegal activities taking place on social media platforms. These cybercrimes include a wide range of harmful actions such as extortion, the spread of fake news, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to alter photos of women, and the distribution of harmful videos—including obscene content—to schoolchildren.

Minister Wijepala also revealed that his own photograph was altered using AI and released on social media. He confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an investigation into the matter.

The minister emphasized that strict legal action will be taken against anyone involved in these types of illegal activities. (NewsCenter)