200:. The statement raised concerns over articles 4, 6, and 7, which the groups believed could be "used to limit freedom of expression on the Internet, as well as to target online activists" and "individual human rights defenders". They called on the Kuwaiti authorities to repeal the selected articles of Law No. 63, as well as the entirety of the Press and Publications Law.
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Article 6 – punishes anyone that criticises the head of state, "shows contempt or disdain for the state constitution", "insults or demonstrates contempt for the judiciary or prejudices their integrity and impartiality", or "prejudices public morals, incites to breach public order or violate law even
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Article 4 – punishes with imprisonment or a fine anyone who "establishes a website or publishes or produces or prepares or creates or sends or stores information or data with a view to use, distribute or display to others via the
Internet or an information technology device that would prejudice
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Article 13 – allows the government to "close shops or locations for a period of one year from the date on which any of the acts listed in the cybercrime law are committed and confiscate devices and software".
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Article 7 – punishes, for up to ten years imprisonment, a number of acts listed in
Article 28 of the 2006 Press and Publications Law, including “the publication of incitement to overthrow the regime in the
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argued that articles 6, 7, and 13 work as an "effective barrier to critical political speech over the
Internet, contrary to essential safeguards that article 19 of the
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stated the law's purpose was to "preserve social stability" and the law only intended to punish those who "publish pornography or offend others".
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Law No. 63 contains 21 articles which set out the regulation of various online activities in Kuwait. Some of the articles include:
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guarantee freedom of opinion and expression, such as article 36.
230:"Cybercrime Legislation in the GCC Countries Fit for Purpose?"
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Law No. 63 of 2015 on
Combating Information Technology Crimes
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Law No. 63 of 2015 on
Combating Information Technology Crimes
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In
January 2016, a joint statement was released by the
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public morality or manages a place for this purpose".
341:"Kuwait Cybercrime Law Curbs Freedom of Expression"
120:, but changes to national security laws since the
124:have changed this view. However, sections of the
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96:organizations for its perceived limitations on
312:"Kuwait: Cybercrime Law a Blow to Free Speech"
136:On 16 June 2015, the law was approved by the
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89:. It came into effect on 12 January 2016.
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140:. It was published on 7 July 2015.
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339:Schulz, Leah (3 February 2016).
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277:"Gulf Centre for Human Rights"
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190:Gulf Center for Human Rights
228:Hakmeh, Joyce (July 2018).
164:if a crime does not occur".
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376:Cybercrime Law No. 63
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75:Cybercrime Law No. 63
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353:on 12 November 2019
85:concerning various
391:Politics of Kuwait
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317:Human Rights Watch
205:Human Rights Watch
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283:. 21 January 2016
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116:in terms of
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211:provides".
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186:Article 19
108:Background
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168:country".
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