1. Electronic Crime Bill
According to the Electronic Crimes
Act 2013, those found guilty of
“sending offensive messages through
[electronic] communication
services, etc.” face up to one year in
prison and a fine of up to EC$100,000
(US$37,000/€28,000).

2. Electronic Crime Bill
In addition to the undefined
“offensive” language, the law also
covers information known to be
false that is intended to
cause, among
others, “annoyance, inconvenience,
insult, or ill-will.”


3. Electronic Crime Bill
 The law appears intended to address defamation not
only via social media, but also via user-generated
content on news Web sites, usually in “comment
sections.”
 These sections, which can be important avenues for
average citizens to express opinions, have become
controversial in the Caribbean and elsewhere as a
forum for the proliferation of potentially libelous of
even insightful material.

4. Int. Press Institute Responds
 IPI executive director Alison Bethel McKenzie
said “IPI absolutely appreciates that the advent
of social media and the proliferation of user-
generated comment have presented challenges
for protecting the right to reputation.
 But we are disappointed that the Grenadian
government has chosen to enact a new criminal
law as a response, especially since just last year
the government agreed with IPI that civil
litigation, not criminal action, is appropriate for
handling libel and defamation cases.”



5. Int. Press Institute Responds
She added: “Any additional law aimed
at regulating this type of content is not
only superfluous but also threatens to
limit press freedom beyond what is
necessary in a democratic society.”