MANILA, Philippines, June 14 -- The Philippines on Wednesday armed itself against computer hackers by passing a law making the theft or destruction of electronic data a crime punishable by imprisonment. The new law aims to deter attacks similar to the "ILOVEYOU" virus, which was spread by suspected Filipino cyber-vandals through electronic mail and disabled millions of computers worldwide last month.
A joint initiative by the U.S. FBI and its local counterpart the National Bureau of Investigation to track down and prosecute the "love bug" perpetrators came to nothing last month because the Philippines did not have laws governing the Internet or electronic commerce.
"It is indeed unfortunate that the country's good name suffered unfairly in the wake of the infamous "ILOVEYOU" virus, which has affected millions of computers worldwide," President Joseph Estrada said in a speech after signing the congressional act into law. He said the law should boost Internet commerce in the Philippines because it gives legal recognition to electronic documents and electronic signatures, making them the equivalent of "any other document or legal writing."
Electronic data or documents now also become admissible evidence in Philippine courts.
The law imposes stiff fines as well as jail terms of up to three years for hacking or interference in a computer system through the use of viruses or other means which lead to the "corruption, destruction, alteration, theft or loss of electronic data messages or electronic documents."
Estrada said the new law is a "concrete manifestation of the country's alliance with the rest of the global community in the fight against cyber-crimes."
However, Trade Secretary Mar Rojas conceded it would not completely deter criminals or pranksters. "The psychology of a person that would make him do something like an ILOVEYOU virus is different. Penalties would not necessarily deter" them, Rojas said in a statement. "Penalties exist all over the world, yet you have it. It is a challenge for them. They pit their intellectual prowess vis-vis those who want to preserve and protect the system." Philippine police this week dropped plans to prosecute one "love bug" suspect due to the absence of specific laws against cyber-crime. Officials said the other suspects would likely be prosecuted for minor offenses such as malicious mischief. The United States had sought the extradition of the "ILOVEYOU" virus suspects, but Manila said it could not be done as the treaty required the offense to be recognized as crimes in both countries. The electronic commerce law signed by Estrada Wednesday plugged that legal loophole, but the "love bug" suspects are almost home free because it does not have retroactive effect.
