Rights should be safeguarded offline and online - de Marco

The Opposition this morning presented a motion to Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia proposing amendments to articles 41 and 51 of the Constitution, including the right to individual privacy over the internet and freedom of expression online.

While presenting the motion to Farrugia, PN deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Mario de Marco said that technology, especially internet, had become an "important tool for people to express themselves", and should be directly recognised as such in the constitution.

"The human rights in place offline should also be enjoyed online," de Marco said, adding that the motion will also seek to ensure that individuals had the right to know what data of theirs was being stored and how it was being used. "Besides being an extension of the right to privacy, it is also something that a democratic society should have in place."

Meanwhile, PN spokesperson for competitiveness and economic growth, Kirsty Debono, said that the ICT sector was one of the biggest legacies implemented by the PN government. "It is now time to recognize ICT and the privacy elements that come with it as a fundamental human right."

The party spokesperson for social dialogue and civil liberties Claudette Buttigieg seconded the motion and said that it would help to empower the vulnerable by giving them such rights. "We cannot forget the vulnerable," she said.

"Therefore, as well as rights we need to emphasise the importance of responsibility. The right to privacy is a fundamental issue," Buttigieg added.

On his part, Speaker Anglu Farrugia said that the motion was a "noble initiative", which could help to prevent breaches of privacy online. He said that he will present the motion in parliament shortly for discussion.