This year’s World Press Freedom Day takes on a special meaning around a world in quarantine. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have been forced to go on lockdown, close borders, discourage physical contact and mass gatherings, and resort to other measures that may have the incidental effect of concentrating Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency that requires a coordinated and large-scale response by governments worldwide. However, States’ efforts to contain the virus must not be used as a cover to usher in a new era of greatly expanded systems of invasive digital surveillance. We, the undersigned Read more
We, the undersigned, express our grave concern over a provision of Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act that threatens our constitutional rights to free expression and access to information. Haphazardly approved on 25 March 2020, the law penalizes “fake news” or disinformation under Section Read more
How does the Covid-19 pandemic impact public health surveillance and our privacy rights? In the Philippines’ national capital region (NCR), military and police enforce a ‘community quarantine’ that restricts human movement in and outside Metro Manila, subject to necessary exceptions. Leaders urge citizens to practice social distancing to avoid exposure. Read more
Women Occupy Spaces sit down strike on Sunday, March 8, as the world celebrates International Women’s Day #IWD2020
Technology-related abuses in the Philippines makes online safety all the more paramount in securing a safe digital space for women, as reflected in Take Back the Tech Philippines’ 2019 report. From social media ‘trolls’ barbarizing women sharing dissent online and apps utilised to commodify women, moves targeting women’s civil liberties Read more
Here’s what you need to know this week: As the Senate approves on third and final reading the Anti-Terror Bill (formally titled An Act to Prevent, Prohibit, and Penalize Terrorism, Thereby Repealing Republic Act No. 9372, also known as the ‘Human Security Act of 2007’), various groups protest anew its Read more
The Foundation for Media Alternatives expresses grave concerns over the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the purpose of conducting surveillance activities. On Monday, February 3, former DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. confirmed his resignation from the agency, citing the lack Read more
On December 11, 2019, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared before the United Nations ICJ (International Court of Justice) to present the Myanmar government’s defense against charges of genocide against the Muslim Rohingya minority group. As Suu Kyi was presenting her testimony at the Hague, another discussion on human Read more
Together with Privacy International and over 50 other organizations from all over the world, FMA signed the letter below, addressed to Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai, asking Google to take action against exploitative pre-installed software on Android devices. You can add your voice to this campaign by signing the petition Read more