Digital Rights Round-up (August 1 to 31, 2026)

META SHARING SOCMED DATA TO HELP PH PROBE THREATS

American technology firm Meta Platforms Inc., which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has made a commitment to the Philippine government to remove harmful artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes from its platforms and cooperate with investigations on cybercrime and other online threats.

PNP TO TRACK DOWN INTERNET USERS GENERATING, SHARING MALICIOUS DEEPFAKES

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will pursue individuals who generate and share deepfakes, or photos and videos created by artificial intelligence (AI) using the likeness of real people, following a reminder from the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

CYBERATTACKS INTENSIFY IN PHILIPPINES IN SECOND HALF

Cyberattacks in the Philippines intensified in the first half of 2026, with more than 19.2 million credentials compromised and 255 data breach incidents exposing about 335 million records, according to Viettel Cyber Security (VCS).

NO FACEBOOK BAN FOR NOW, OTHER PLATFORMS MAY FACE RESTRICTIONS – PALACE

Malacañang on Thursday said there is no immediate need to ban Facebook in the Philippines after the social media giant showed willingness to respond to government requests to remove fake news and violent content.

FACEBOOK STILL TOP NEWS SOURCE OF PINOYS – POLL

Nine in every 10 Filipinos who have access to the internet use Facebook as their source of news, according to Pulse Asia’s latest survey on internet and social media use in the Philippines.

WEAK DATA FOUNDATIONS COULD HOLD BACK PHILIPPINE AI PUSH, WORLD BANK WARNS

Weak and fragmented data systems are threatening to hold back the Philippines’ artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions, prompting the World Bank to call for greater investment in the infrastructure and governance needed to unlock the technology’s economic potential.

MARCOS OPEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA BAN OVER HARMFUL YOUTH INFLUENCE – PALACE

The remarks came after the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said it was considering recommending a ban on Facebook in the country following a deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

PAX SILICA TO FOCUS ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, NOT AI DATA CENTERS—DTI

Addressing a House appropriations committee, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo clarified that the site will produce hardware and equipment destined for AI infrastructure, but will not house the actual data centers.

CHR URGES STRONGER SAFEGUARDS FOR JOURNALISTS ON PRESS FREEDOM DAY

In a statement on Sunday, the CHR warned that press freedom in the Philippines continues to “face serious challenges.” In April, Reporters Without Borders said the Philippines improved from 116th last year but remains in the lower half of its 180-country press freedom index.

PAX SILICA AI HUB TO START DEVELOPMENT IN 3-5 YEARS

Site development in the planned US-led artificial intelligence (AI) hub Pax Silica in Central Luzon is eyed to start within three to five years, covering around 500 hectares of the 1,620-hectare site.

COMMISSION WARNS UNAUTHORIZED AI ‘DEEPFAKES’ OF REAL PEOPLE MAY BE VIOLATION OF DATA PRIVACY

In an advisory dated August 11, the NPC stressed that a person’s face and likeness are legally protected “personal information” under Republic Act No. 10173. 

PHILIPPINE ANTI-ONLINE DISINFORMATION BILL FEARED TO THREATEN FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AS CALLS GROW FOR AI GOVERNANCE

Media advocates urge lawmakers to prioritise instead a comprehensive framework for responsible AI use, with safeguards on transparency, privacy, discrimination, labour impacts and environmental compliance.

SENATE PANEL ENDORSES BILL SETTING 16 AS MINIMUM AGE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Senate Bill No. 2424, or the proposed Child Online Safety and Protection Act, seeks to regulate children’s access to social media platforms and impose obligations on social media companies to protect minors from online risks.

BLOCKING FACEBOOK TO CURB VIOLENCE IS LAST RESORT, SAYS CICC

Speaking to state television’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, CICC Executive Director Aboy Paraiso said they were only following the government mandate to ensure the online safety of Filipinos.

REMULLA LINKS ROBLOX TO ‘RADICALIZATION’ OF CHILDREN AFTER DEADLY ZAMBOANGA SHOOTING

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday urged Congress to regulate children’s use of games that allow them to act like a shooter as he flagged platforms could be used to “radicalize” youngsters.

SOLON URGES HIGHER EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS TO TACKLE STUDENTS’ USE OF AI

Tertiary education stakeholders should meet to address the use of artificial intelligence among students and its impact on learning, Solid North Rep. Ching Bernos said on Monday.

COMELEC LAUNCHES DATA PRIVACY HANDBOOK

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched its first data privacy handbook at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday to strengthen the protection of voters’ information. Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the data privacy handbook aims to ensure that every employee is guided on handling the information in the commission.

DEPED URGES RESPONSIBLE ONLINE SHARING AMID SCHOOL SHOOTING TRAGEDY

The Department of Education (DepEd) has called for more responsible online sharing of sensitive content to shield traumatized learners and staff from further distress.

[OPINION] PROTECTING THE FILIPINO YOUTH IN THE DIGITAL SPACE

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has raised a concern that deserves far more than passing attention: the growing influence of social media and online personalities, including politicians, on children and young people.

MARCOS RENEWS VOW TO DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM IN PH

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday said he remains committed to upholding press freedom in the country, as he underscored the role that media practitioners play in promoting good governance and transparency.

DICT, ISPS BOOST SAFEGUARDS VS ONLINE VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE CONTENT

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is intensifying efforts against nihilistic violent extremism (NVE) and other harmful online content. The move complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen child protection and promote a safer digital environment.

WHO DECIDES WHAT IS FAKE NEWS? PHILIPPINE BILL PUTS POWER IN STATE’S HANDS, TO DISMAY OF JOURNALISTS

A legislative Bill that its authors say will curb online disinformation while protecting the press has cleared the Philippines’ House of Representatives and is now before the Senate. But the journalists and researchers who have spent years documenting disinformation are asking lawmakers to toss the measure.

SCAM WATCH URGES DICT TO PUSH ASEAN DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY AGENDA

Scam Watch Pilipinas is calling on the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to use the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship to lead a united regional push for accountability among the world’s biggest technology companies.

PHILIPPINES JOINS ASIA’S ONLINE SAFETY PUSH AS ROBLOX, META MAKE CONCESSIONS

The Philippines has signed an agreement with Roblox, which will see the social gaming platform integrate the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) into its age assurance stack in the country. It has also engaged Meta in conversations about online safety for minors and the swift removal of explicit deepfake content.

MARCOS: PH EXPANDS DIGITAL LITERACY, CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Friday the government is expanding digital literacy programs and strengthening cybersecurity efforts to protect Filipinos, particularly children and young people, from harmful online content and disinformation.

GAMING COMMUNITY TIPS SEEN AIDING FIGHT VS ONLINE EXTREMISM

Members of the gaming community are emerging as potential sources of intelligence against online groups that expose or groom young people toward violent extremism, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said Thursday.

CICC SEEKS JURISDICTION OVER MESSAGING, STREAMING PLATFORMS

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) wants Philippine authorities to gain clearer jurisdiction over social media, messaging, and streaming platforms as anonymous online spaces increasingly complicate efforts to trace threats and protect children from violent content.

HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO PROTECT FILIPINOS, KEY SERVICES FROM CYBERATTACKS

Voting 198-3-1, the House approved House Bill No. 9605, or the National Cybersecurity and Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act of 2026, a priority measure that addresses threats such as fraud, identity theft, data breaches and ransomware, as well as cyberattacks capable of disrupting essential services.

SENATORS EYE WIDER DIGITAL TOOLS VS ONLINE THREATS TO CHILDREN

During plenary deliberations on Senate Bill No. 1819, or the proposed Child Online Protection and Safety Act, Senator Risa Hontiveros, the principal sponsor and author of the measure, said amendments are being prepared to equip law enforcement agencies with investigative tools similar to those used against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).

TELCO DECISION TO BLOCK ‘EXTREME’ CONTENT RAISES CENSORSHIP CONCERNS

Despite presumed good intentions, a telco’s decision to block access to dozens of websites it said host footage of school shootings and extreme violence could set a precedent for corporations taking on government functions, an online rights advocate said.

GOREBOX AGREED TO PH BAN AFTER DUE PROCESS – DICT

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday clarified that the removal of the online game Gorebox from the Philippines was a mutual decision reached after due process, not a unilateral government action.

DICT, META AGREE TO FORM WORKING GROUP ON HARMFUL CONTENT, ONLINE THREATS

The Philippine government and Meta have agreed to establish a technical working group to improve coordination and response times in addressing harmful content, online threats of violence, and child sexual abuse and exploitation material on the company’s platforms.

GENDERSCOOP

70% OF SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE, EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN THIS YEAR ARE MOTHERS— PNP

Data from the WCPC showed that 14 of the 20 suspects arrested for OSAEC from January to August 2026 were mothers, or 70%.

GABRIELA URGES DILG REVIEW OF VAWC SETTLEMENT POLICY; REMULLA VOWS ACTION VS PNP PERSONNEL

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to review its policy allowing settlement or reconciliation in Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) cases, particularly those involving police personnel, as Secretary Jonvic Remulla vowed to pursue appropriate action against perpetrators.

NUEVA VIZCAYA STRENGTHENS CAMPAIGN VS. VAWC, BACKS PBBM’S CALL TO PROTECT WOMEN, CHILDREN

The Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, in partnership with national government agencies, is strengthening its campaign to prevent violence against women and children (VAWC), in line with the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s continuing efforts to protect vulnerable sectors and promote safe communities.