Syria’s Cybercrime Law: An Assad-Era Relic Still Strangling Free Speech (opens original article in a new tab)

Syria's transitional government maintains the Assad-era Cybercrime Law, which critics argue suppresses free speech by criminalizing political expression and journalistic critique, prompting calls for legal reform.

• Syria's transitional government continues to enforce the 2022 Cybercrime Law, which includes vague charges like 'undermining the state's prestige'
• The law is criticized for targeting political speech, journalistic critique, and public debate rather than genuine digital crimes
• The article calls for decriminalizing political expression and overhauling the law to distinguish between real cybercrime and speech restrictions
• The law's continued use raises concerns about maintaining authoritarian practices under a new regime