Digital Rights Round-up (June 1 to 30, 2026)
Digital Rights Round-up (June 1 to 30, 2026)
DIGITAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES GATHER IN PH, SEEK GREATER PUBLIC ROLE IN ASEAN DIGITAL POLICIES
Held as the Philippines chairs ASEAN in 2026, the conference brought together delegates to discuss issues ranging from digital governance and online freedoms to the growing influence of technology on societies across the region.
DICT PRESSES LAWMAKERS FOR STRICTER SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is urging Congress to pass legislation enforcing stricter policies on using social media platforms in the Philippines. The proposed measure would impose age restrictions, require local moderation, establish complaint channels, and mandate a local corporate presence.
SENATE TO PROBE ROBLOX, GAMING PLATFORMS’ ROLE IN YOUTH SAFETY ON JULY 1
Lawmakers are expected to examine platforms such as Roblox and other popular online games amid concerns over content moderation, age restrictions, and how digital spaces may be used for grooming, radicalization, or recruitment of young users.
UN MONITOR ON PRESS FREEDOM FLAGS PH CASE
United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan has warned that freedom of expression is “under attack in multiple ways,” with various states, including the Philippines, increasingly weaponizing speech, criminalizing dissent and restricting access to digital spaces.
DIGITAL RIGHTS GROUP: INTERNET SHOULD PROMOTE EQUALITY, NOT EXPLOITATION
Digital spaces should be used for democratic participation, creativity, inclusion and equality, not for surveillance, exploitation and exclusion, a digital rights group said in its annual report.
PNP ARRESTS 153 IN MAY CYBERCRIME OPS
The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested 153 individuals for various cyber-related violations in May as part of its intensified efforts to strengthen public safety in the digital space.
DICT SEES $30-B INVESTMENTS UNDER 7-YEAR AI INFRA MASTERPLAN
The PAIIM (Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan) 2033 seeks to strengthen the country’s AI and digital infrastructure ecosystem while positioning the Philippines as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital industries.
DIGITAL BAYANIHAN IN THE AGE OF AI: NPC MARKS DECADE OF DATA PRIVACY AT PAW 2026
The week-long event culminated in the 9th National Data Privacy Conference held at Okada Manila, centered on the theme “Anamnesis: Looking Back and Moving Forward,” with a specific focus on “Digital Bayanihan: Nurturing Privacy Consciousness in the Age of AI”.
SENATE SETS JULY 1 PROBE INTO ONLINE RADICALIZATION AND SHOOTING
Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality will examine whether online platforms and gaming spaces are doing enough to prevent the spread of violent content and the grooming of minors.
NPC, JAPAN INK DEAL ON CROSS-BORDER DATA PRIVACY PROTECTION
NPC Privacy Commissioner Johann Carlos Barcena said the deal involves the collaboration between the two agencies to exchange best practices and experiences on data protection policies and privacy-enhancing technologies.
PNP PROBES SENATE WEBSITE BREACH, VOWS TO TRACK PERPETRATORS
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to assess the vulnerabilities that allowed the intrusion while actively tracing the digital footprint left by the perpetrators.
META REVAMPS ONLINE SAFETY FEATURES FOR MINORS IN PH
In a launch event at Fairmont Makati, Meta Asia Pacific head of safety policy Malina Enlund said the revamped features are concrete platform-level contributions to the Philippines’ digital safety agenda.
HOUSE BILL SEEKS TIGHTER ONLINE ACCESS RULES FOR MINORS
House Bill No. 9825, or the proposed Digital Safety of Minors Act, seeks to establish age-appropriate mechanisms for users aged 16 to 18 while strengthening protections for younger children through parental consent and privacy safeguards.
META ENHANCES TEEN ACCOUNTS SAFETY
Unveiled during the Screen Smart Philippines event, the update automatically enables private accounts, stricter messaging controls, audience restrictions, daily screen time reminders, and Sleep Mode, which silences notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Users below 16 years old will need parental permission to relax any of the default safety settings.
MORE MOVES TO REGULATE ONLINE DISINFORMATION
Efforts to regulate online disinformation have intensified in the Philippines, with lawmakers proposing new penalties and authorities launching initiatives with major news organisations. These moves come as the news media industry is being reshaped by shifts in distribution, platform use, and audience behaviour, alongside persistent press freedom concerns.
HOUSE APPROVES ANTI-DISINFORMATION BILL ON FINAL READING
Voting 286-3 with seven abstentions, the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening approved on third and final reading a priority bill seeking to protect Filipinos from deliberate online deception, organized disinformation campaigns, and digital operations that threaten public safety, national security, and democratic institutions.
FILIPINO TRUST IN NEWS POSTS BIGGEST FALL IN 2026 REPORT
Trust in news in the Philippines plummeted by 10 points in 2026, the steepest decline among all 48 markets covered by this year’s Reuters Institute Digital News Report, amid deep political divisions, sustained attacks on the media and a continued shift toward social media, video platforms, creators and AI tools.
PHILIPPINES AMONG WORST PERFORMERS IN GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS INDEX
The country scored 5.4 out of 10 on empowerment, indicating that many Filipinos are not fully enjoying civil liberties and political freedoms. Among specific rights, freedom of assembly and association received the lowest score at 4.3, followed by freedom of speech at 5.4, democratic rights at 7.0 and freedom of religion and belief at 7.9.
HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK RIGHT TO INFORMATION BILL ON FINAL READING
The House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved on third and final reading a landmark measure that would give Filipinos broader access to government records, spending documents, contracts and decision-making processes, while requiring agencies to proactively disclose information of public interest.
6 IN 10 PINOYS HIT BY CYBERSECURITY INCIDENTS
Six in 10 Filipinos using information and communications technology (ICT) devices experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in 2024, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
WATCHDOG: FAKE NEWS BILL IN CURRENT FORM THREATENS FREE SPEECH ONLINE
Human Rights Watch pointed out that the HB 9465, in its current form, “falls far short” of standards and lacks safeguards because of its “vague and overbroad framing” of prohibited acts that supposedly constitute fake news.
DICT TAPS GOOGLE CLOUD TO OVERHAUL BUREAUCRACY, CYBERSECURITY
The Philippine government and Google Cloud announced Monday an expanded, multi-year partnership to integrate enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity systems into public services, aiming to streamline bureaucracy and secure national infrastructure.
MARCOS OPEN TO CURBS ON VIOLENT ONLINE GAMES AFTER TACLOBAN SHOOTING
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is open to proposals restricting or banning violent online games amid concerns over their possible influence on minors, Malacañang said Tuesday following the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City.
NEW NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY CENTER TO STRENGTHEN PH CYBER DEFENSE
A new National Cyber Security Center (NSCS) is expected to enhance the country’s cyber defense capabilities, modernize security infrastructure, and develop a supporting workforce during its groundbreaking in Valenzuela City on Monday.
AI, ICT TRAINING COURSES OFFERED TO FILIPINOS THROUGH TESDA, PARTNERS
The public can now access free online courses in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence (AI) through the HP LIFE Program via the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in partnership with UNESCO-UNEVOC.
STUDY: AI COULD THREATEN SUSTAINABILITY OF PH NEWS MEDIA DESPITE EFFICIENCY GAINS
A new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) warns that the technology also presents significant challenges to media sustainability, information integrity, and intellectual property protection.
THINKAMUNA: CAMPAIGN AGAINST ONLINE SCAMS EXPANDS TO INCLUDE FINANCIAL LITERACY
As online scams become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, THINKaMuna Pilipinas, a media and information literacy advocacy, is expanding its efforts to help Filipinos better protect themselves in the digital space.
GENDERSCOOP
DTI, WOMENBIZPH TEAM UP TO BOOST WOMEN-LED SME’S
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Women’s Business Council Philippines Inc. (WomenBizPH) have teamed up to strengthen efforts to support women enterprises. It will also develop and operate the “Women Mentorship” Hotline to provide guidance to women-led enterprises through digital and other accessible channels.
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS EMPOWER PHILIPPINE ECONOMY
Filipina entrepreneurs – many of them mothers – are powering the Philippine economy, owning 66 percent of existing businesses and 62 percent of newly registered enterprises. Programs such as Elevate AIDA are already equipping women with skills in artificial intelligence and data annotation, opening up new income opportunities, particularly for those working from home.
PRIDE MONTH: MORE LGUs EMBRACE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES
As of this writing, more than 80 local anti-discrimination policies have been enacted across the country, based on 2022 data from Balangaw.ph, a digital platform dedicated to LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and other information gathered by the Inquirer. These ordinances seek to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE), from major metropolitan areas to small provinces, including communities in the Bangsamoro region as far as Tawi-Tawi.
The Women’s Business Council Philippines (WomenBizPH) and Indian Women in Enterprise (I-WE) formalized a Partnership Agreement at the WomenBizPH Office located at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Building, marking a significant milestone in advancing regional trade, women entrepreneurship, and cross-border business collaboration.
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