KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former state minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson, this afternoon recommended changes to Jamaica’s much debated cybercrimes legislation, saying the Act was not “bad law, but one that can be further refined”.

Robinson, who repeatedly alluded to the charge of Tambourine Army co-founder Latoya Nugent under section 9 of the Act though not naming her, said developing tailored laws that do not unduly restrict freedom of expression is an essential and an ongoing dialogue involving the legislature, the executive and the court. Nugent was accused of publishing information on social media maligning several individuals as sexual predators. She is facing three counts of using computer for malicious communication under Section 9 (1) of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015. Section 9 of the Cybercrimes Act is aimed at malicious communication over the internet.Robinson suggested that the legislature embark on amendments including providing a definition of words like ‘menacing’ within the act, providing more defences to the section 9 offence, and requiring that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approve all proceedings that are to be brought against an offender. The Opposition spokesman was making his contribution to the 2017/18 sectoral debate.