DOJ official: Anti-terror bill provision excludes dissent from penalties

A Department of Justice (DOJ) official stated that a provision in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 aims to alleviate concerns regarding potential abuses of the law, specifically noting that dissent is not penalized.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete explained that "advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights" are not included in the definition of terrorism.

However, Perete omitted a crucial caveat from this provision: dissent is still considered terrorism if there is intent to cause harm or create a risk to public safety.

Critics have voiced fears that the new anti-terrorism measure could be used to curb freedom of expression.

The proposed law is intended to replace the existing Human Security Act of 2007.