Last August, I attended my third Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Conference (DRAPAC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Having participated in DRAPAC since 2023, I’ve grown familiar with its format and have come to expect seeing many of the faces I’ve met in previous years. Yet, despite this sense of familiarity, each experience Read more
On September 15, 1995, the world adopted the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) — a bold global agenda for advancing women’s rights and gender equality. It outlined 12 critical areas of concern, from ending violence and poverty to ensuring education, health, and leadership for all women. Thirty years later, its Read more
‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’ BILL LAPSES INTO LAW The measure allowing new internet service providers to operate in the country without a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) lapsed into law on Sunday. SAFEGUARDS SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE PROMISE OF ‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’ While the “Konektadong Pinoy” law could open Read more
Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, ensuring that journalists can report truthfully and hold power to account without fear of censorship or retaliation. In the Philippines, press freedom remains a critical issue, one increasingly under threat not only by direct intimidation but also through digital means. Filipino women journalists Read more
Demonstrating a shared commitment to youth empowerment, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun), the DivinaLaw Foundation, and the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) joined forces to host a legal education seminar titled “Safe Spaces Online: Legal Rights, Mental Health, and Responsible Social Media Use for the Filipino Youth” last Read more
MARCOS YEAR 3: PROMISES, PROGRESS, BACKLOGS Rappler’s community partners from the #FactsFirstPH, #AtinAngPilipinas, and #CourageON: No Lockdown on Rights coalitions identified updates on key promises made by Marcos and his administration during his third year in power. NO MENTION OF KONEKTADONG PINOY BILL, AI IN SONA 2025 The Konektadong Pinoy Read more
We live in a culture that thrives on visibility. Photos, livestreams, Reels, and TikToks are part of daily life – documenting joy, creativity, protest, even injustice. But amid this constant documentation, consent has become an afterthought. When someone films you without your permission, especially in a way that is sexualized, Read more
“I never used to think twice about what I posted online—until I saw someone like me get doxxed. Her address, phone number, even her family’s photos were spread by strangers just because she spoke out.”In today’s digital world, our personal information such as our names, locations, even the people we Read more
In recent years, trafficking in the Philippines has taken a disturbing turn as perpetrators use digital tools to recruit their victims. What was once happening mainly in remote brothels and through physical recruitment is now happening online, behind screens, under usernames, and in encrypted messages. This shift marks a dangerous Read more
In the Philippines, where numerous typhoons devastate communities one after another, internet access is not just an issue of convenience. It is a political one as well. Each storm season, millions are cut off from electricity, transportation, and communication. But what often gets overlooked is how the lack of internet Read more