On cybercrime, disinformation, and Internet access: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (December 1-31, 2023)

BIZ BUZZ: NPC READIES CHARGES VS PHILHEALTH OFFICIALS FOR DATA LEAK The government’s data privacy watchdog has apparently seen merit in sanctioning the highest officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for the data leak back in October that involved over 180 million records of personal data of its members. Read more…

On VAW, cybersecurity, and digital technology: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (November 1-30, 2023)

MARCOS TO INVESTORS: PHILIPPINES READY FOR AI The Philippines is ready for artificial intelligence (AI), President Marcos said yesterday, as he assured investors that efforts are underway to use the technology to boost the skills of workers and the competitiveness of businesses. DOH VERIFYING ALLEGED COVID-19 LEAKED DATA The Department Read more…

On cybersecurity, AI, and internet freedom: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (October 1- 31, 2023)

PHILHEALTH NEGLIGENCE EYED IN DATA BREACH The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is investigating if there was negligence in the handling of personal information and security committed by Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) regarding a recent ransomware attack. PHILHEALTH: 13 MILLION MEMBERS AFFECTED BY DATA BREACH “It is really in the Read more…

On media killings and digital safety: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (October 15 to November 15, 2022)

VIETNAM, THAILAND LEAD IN ASEAN MOBILE EXPERIENCE WHILE PH LAGS: REPORT The Philippines ranked at the bottom in five measures and second to last in a further two categories. Vietnam’s Download Speed Experience score was 9.5 Mbps (57.1%) faster than the Philippines. Read more here. ROMUALDEZ ASSURES SWIFT PASSAGE OF Read more…

On cybercrime, security, and SIM card registration: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (September 1-15, 2022)

SECURITY EXPERT LAUNCHES UNIFIED CYBERSECURITY PLATFORM CHALLENGES TIn a recent press briefing, Ian Felipe, Trend Micro Philippines country manager, told journalists that local organizations have to act fast because they were identified in Trend Micro’s 2021 Annual Cybersecurity Report as some of the most vulnerable in the region. Read more Read more…

On the national press freedom day, joint venture deal, and digitalization: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (August 16-31, 2022)

ON THE FIRST OBSERVATION OF NATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM DAY The Philippines observes its first National Press Freedom Day today, August 30, 2022, after former president Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11699 on April 13. However, we recognize that continued media repression, threats to free expression, and journalists’ Read more…

On cyber libel, telco competition, and the new OSAEC law: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (August 1-15, 2022)

POLICE ARREST EX-VP CANDIDATE WALDEN BELLO FOR CYBER LIBEL Former vice presidential candidate and Laban ng Masa chairperson Walden Bello was arrested for two counts of cyber libel by the police on Monday, August 8. Bello’s arrest was confirmed by his executive secretary and Laban ng Masa spokesperson Leomar Doctolero. Read more…

On the vision for tech, better internet speed, and online (and offline) violence: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (July 16-31, 2022)

DIGITAL SERVICES TAX, DIGITAL GOV’T SERVICES: TECH PRIORITIES FROM SONA 2022 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, addressed Congress in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), with some points of his 74-minute speech touching on technology-related issues. President Marcos Jr.’s 19 priority bills include the E-Government Read more…