On digital transactions, online investment scams, policy and reforms in the digital sector: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (16-30, 2022)

SC: PHOTOS, MESSAGES FROM FB MESSENGER ADMISSIBLE AS EVIDENCE The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that photos and messages obtained by private individuals from a Facebook messenger account are admissible as evidence in court. The ruling was based on a 31-page decision by Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez after the conviction Read more…

On internet infrastructure, cybersecurity and the fight against disinformation disorder: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (June 1-15, 2022)

STARLINK SET TO DELIVER BREAKTHROUGH INTERNET SERVICES TO PH SOON The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) speedily approved SpaceX-Starlink’s requirements that will allow the country to enjoy breakthrough internet services through the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network constellation consisting of over 1,600 satellites. Starlink promises to deliver Read more…

On Election Standards, Defending Freedom of Speech and Press Freedom, and Upholding Historical Truth: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (May 16-31, 2022)

INT’L OBSERVERS: MAY 9 PH VOTE FALLS SHORT OF FREE, FAIR ELECTION STANDARDS The election was “not free and fair”. Séverine De Laveleye, a Belgian parliamentarian, said this as she presented the interim report of the International Observer Mission (IOM) on the May 9 elections. The IOM, which was launched Read more…

On the veto of the SIM Card Registration Ace, Election-related initiatives, and the Junking of Cyberlibel Raps: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup (April 16-30, 2022)

DUTERTE VETOES SIM REGISTRATION BILL DUE TO MANDATORY REGISTRATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed the proposed Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act, Malacañang said on April 15. The provision ordering the mandatory registration of social media accounts prompted Duterte to veto the measure, acting presidential Read more…

On Meta’s Takedowns, the COMELEC Task Force and Election Information Disorder: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup | April 1-15, 2022

COMELEC FORMS TASK FORCE TO GO AFTER PEDDLERS OF FALSE INFO VS POLL BODY The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc approved the creation of a task force that seeks to crack down on individuals and entities propagating election-related disinformation – specifically against the poll body. Commissioner George Garcia said Read more…

ON SATELLITE INTERNET SERVICES, CYBER ATTACKS AND CYBER LIBEL: THE FMA DIGITAL RIGHTS ROUNDUP

‘EVEN RIZAL USED A PSEUDONYM’: DUTERTE URGED TO VETO SIM CARD REGISTRATION OVER PRIVACY CONCERNS Internet freedom and ICT rights advocacy group Democracy.Net.PH on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte through a written petition to veto the SIM Card Registration Act, saying it has flawed and unclear provisions that violate freedom Read more…

On cyberfraud, attacks on critical media, and disinformation in social media ahead of 2022 polls: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup

December 1-31, 2021 The Digital Rights Roundup, published by the Foundation for Media Alternatives, contains regular updates on what Filipinos need to know about their digital rights. 21% of Facebook users in the Philippines experienced harassment —study Facebook conducted a study among users in the Philippines and it showed that Read more…

On the efforts to broaden internet access in the Philippines, spam text messages, and fighting historical distortion: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup

November 16-30, 2021 The Digital Rights Roundup, published by the Foundation for Media Alternatives, contains regular updates on what Filipinos need to know about their digital rights. Service interruption hits Converge ICT Solutions Internet service provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. confirmed a service interruption following complaints from subscribers. Subscribers in Read more…

On deep fake campaigning, internet economy, and digitalization roadblocks: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup

November 1-15, 2021 The Digital Rights Roundup, published by the Foundation for Media Alternatives, contains regular updates on what Filipinos need to know about their digital rights. Comelec’s Jimenez: Integrity pledge bars deep fakes in Eleksyon 2022 The Commission on Elections is expected to hold candidates accountable if they use Read more…

On digital gender gap, voices of dissent, growth in e-commerce, and rising cases of cybercrime in the Philippines: The FMA Digital Rights Roundup

October 16-31, 2021 The Digital Rights Roundup, published by the Foundation for Media Alternatives, contains regular updates on what Filipinos need to know about their digital rights. 63 percent of Filipino adults are internet users — Pulse Asia survey Sixty-three percent of Filipino adults use the internet, with 59 percent Read more…