Digital Rights Round-up (February 1 to 28, 2026)

SOCIAL MEDIA REGISTRATION TO BURDEN ORDINARY USERS, CURTAIL SPEECH — RIGHTS ADVOCATES

Digital rights advocates are urging the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to scrap its planned mandatory identification verification for social media users, citing “serious effects” on free speech and the potential for censorship. DICT in January said it is eyeing requiring social media users to register or be verified, similar to the SIM Card Registration Act, to prevent scams and other cybercrimes.

CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS URGE RIGHTS-BASED DIGITAL POLICIES ACROSS ASEAN

Civil society organizations are strengthening collaboration to promote and defend digital rights across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). A briefing paper titled “Rights at the Core – Towards a Rights-Respecting Digital Ecosystem in ASEAN” was launched at an event organized by Access Now, EngageMedia, FORUM-ASIA, Oxfam, and the Wikimedia Foundation, outlining movement-driven recommendations addressing challenges in the digital economy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI).

PALACE: PRIORITY ANTI-FAKE NEWS BILL MUST PROTECT FREE SPEECH

Malacañang on Tuesday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. supports an anti-fake news measure only if it clearly balances regulation with the protection of freedom of expression, stressing that dissent and critical views must not be suppressed.

DICT SAYS WORKING TO BRIDGE ‘CONNECTIVITY DIVIDE’ TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESS

In his opening remarks at the Philippine Telecom Summit 2026, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said only 7 out of 10 Filipino households in Metro Manila have internet connection, while in the rest of the country in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, only 3 to 4 households out of 10 are connected to the internet, describing this as an “opportunity divide.” 

SAFER INTERNET DAY 2026: GROUPS WARN OF AI-DRIVEN ONLINE ABUSE TARGETING CHILDREN

GIRL and child rights organizations Plan International Pilipinas and Consuelo Foundation have raised alarm over escalating AI-enabled online abuse targeting children, ahead of their Safer Internet Day Celebration on Feb. 24, 2026. The event will convene lawmakers, tech companies, youth leaders, and civil society groups to address emerging digital risks.

SAFER INTERNET DAY: PROTECTING CHILDREN IN THE ONLINE ENVIRONMENT

Children today are growing up in an online environment that strongly shapes how they learn, communicate and participate in society. While digital technologies offer many opportunities, they also expose children to serious risks, often without adequate protection.

GLOBE STRENGTHENS CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION FOR SAFER INTERNET DAY

Aligned with this year’s Safer Internet Day theme, “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo: Konektado at Protektado Laban sa OSAEC at CSAEM,” Globe combines network security measures with education initiatives to create safer online spaces for children and families.

GLOBE, CANVAS BRING ONLINE SAFETY AND AI EDUCATION TO FAMILIES

The event brought together children, parents and educators for a morning of storytelling, guided discussions and hands-on activities focused on data privacy, artificial intelligence (AI) and responsible technology use. It formed part of Globe’s yearlong collaboration with Canvas at the National Museum, anchored on the children’s book “Safe Space: A Kid’s Guide to Data Privacy.”

AI CREATING NEW CHALLENGES IN PROTECTING MINORS VS. ONLINE ABUSE

During a press briefing to launch Safer Internet Day (SID) Celebration 2026, the officials said the growing digital footprint of children has led to unprecedented exposure to illicit online materials, making child protection a matter of national urgency.

DEPED ISSUES AI POLICY: ‘HUMAN-CENTERED’ APPROACH MUST BE PRIORITIZED

In a 49-page order by the DepEd dated Feb. 20, Education Secretary Sonny Angara acknowledged the “rapid expansion” of AI use in classrooms, teaching, learning and education governance. Angara, through DepEd Order No. 003 series of 2026, said the use of AI in classrooms has “outpaced the ability of the basic education system to put in place clear, unified and enforceable policies.”

PCC FLAGS COMPETITION, PRIVACY RISKS IN PH DIGITAL PLATFORMS

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has warned that the growing dominance of major digital platforms in the country raises both competition and data-privacy concerns, urging closer coordination among regulators and possible policy reforms to address emerging risks in the data-driven economy.

DEPED BACKS NEW NATIONAL AI HUB, CITES SAFEGUARDS IN SCHOOL INTEGRATION

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday welcomed the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Innovation (NAICRI), saying the initiative supports the responsible and regulated integration of artificial intelligence in basic education.

MARCOS REAFFIRMS RESPECT FOR EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE, PRESS FREEDOM

On the 126th anniversary of the Manila Bulletin, President Marcos reaffirmed his commitment to press freedom and respect for editorial independence, which are vital to the country’s democracy. Marcos stated this as he stressed that the Philippines’ maturing democracy requires a free and responsible press.

CHR URGES CONGRESS TO DECRIMINALIZE LIBEL, CYBERLIBEL

The Commission on Human Rights urged Congress to pass measures to decriminalize libel and cyberlibel, which they said have “long undermined freedom of expression, weakened press freedom, and enabled legal harassment against journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens.”

PBBM: FASTER, EXPANDED CONNECTIVITY KEY TO NAT’L DEV’T

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday emphasized the importance of faster and expanded Internet connectivity as a key driver of national development, saying digital access is now a necessity that empowers Filipinos to learn, work, and access essential services.

DICT ROLLS OUT PROACTIVE MEASURES TO BOOST CYBERSECURITY

In a news release on Friday, DICT Cybersecurity Undersecretary Julius Gorospe announced the three initiatives: Bug Bounty Program, DICT Trusted Assessment Provider (D-TAP) framework and Cybersecurity Posture Assessment Laboratory (CPAL).

DICT, META INK LANDMARK AGREEMENT FOR SAFER INTERNET IN PH

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and social media giant Meta/Facebook have reached a landmark  agreement to ensure a safer internet in the Philippines. This, after the DICT secured the commitments to make sure that children are protected, scammers are blocked, and deepfakes are stopped on social media.

IS YOUR INTERNET SLOW? REPORT IT TO ‘OPLAN BANTAY SIGNAL’

The Marcos Jr. administration, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), is leveraging citizen feedback to improve the quality of digital services across the country through its “Oplan Bantay Signal” initiative.

GLOBE: PHILIPPINES MUST TREAT INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AS ‘5TH UTILITY’

The Philippines should treat internet connectivity as its “fifth utility,” alongside water, electricity, sanitation and transport, the top executive of Globe Telecom Inc. said.

DIGITAL ACCESS FOR STUDENTS, WORKERS MUST BE PRIORITIZED, MARCOS SAYS

Digital access must translate into real opportunities for students, workers, families, and communities across the country, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said as he stressed that progress is not measured by internet speed alone but by the lives of Filipinos that improved through connectivity.

MARCOS JR. ADMIN UNVEILS P6T DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY PLAN TO BOOST INTERNET ACCESS FOR FILIPINOS

The government will invest an estimated P6 trillion over a couple of years to expand internet connectivity nationwide, aiming to make the Philippines a top-two ASEAN country for digital access by the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term, a Cabinet official said Thursday.

PH STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO COMBAT CYBERATTACKS

Malacañang on Friday said the government is stepping up efforts to combat cyberattacks and eventually curb the spread of misinformation. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the Philippines is strengthening its cybersecurity partnerships with countries like Canada and Japan amid evolving cyber threats.

PHILIPPINES FACES UNSEEN CYBER WAR MARKED BY DISINFORMATION

The Philippines is facing an “unseen war” in the digital domain as foreign interference and disinformation increasingly shape public perception and democratic processes, Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit warned on Thursday at the opening of a two-day cybersecurity conference in Manila.

CICC EXEC PUSHES CREATION OF ‘CYBER DIPLOMATS’

Once established, cyber diplomats would perform functions similar to those of law enforcement or labor attaches, but would serve as a diplomatic force under the Department of Foreign Affairs, according to Paraiso.

AI-DRIVEN LOVE SCAMS SURGE AHEAD OF VALENTINE’S DAY

The public is warned to be more vigilant against a surge in increasingly sophisticated “love scams” ahead of Valentine’s Day, with criminal syndicates using artificial intelligence and other digital tools to deceive victims.

DICT WITHDRAWS PROPOSAL TO BAN TELEGRAM

The DICT said in a Facebook post that a deal has been made after a meeting with Telegram representatives Ronak Singh and Abhimanyu Yadav. The agreement aims to create a safer digital space and includes several commitments from Telegram.

DIGITAL LITERACY ‘NEW’ LIFE SKILL FOR PUBLIC, TEENAGERS, SAYS HISTORIAN

Digital literacy, an ability to create and communicate information using technology, is a life skill that the public – especially teenagers – should possess, a digital historian said.

SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION IN PH: EXPERTS PUSH FOR ‘AGE-APPROPRIATE’ FRAMEWORK FOR MINORS

As several countries around the world propose measures banning minors from social media, following Australia’s lead, the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, February 11, held a committee hearing on five related bills looking to regulate or ban children’s social media access.