Digital Rights Round-up (September 1 to 30, 2026)

DEPED TO ROLL OUT SCHOOL DIGITAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen school safety, the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to launch a School Digital Safety Campaign for students, teachers, and parents. Secretary Sonny Angara said that the department aims to add another crucial layer of protection through digital safety.

PUBLIC ADVISORY: NPC CALLS ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) reminds all digital platform operators to strictly adhere to their heightened responsibilities and legal obligations in processing the personal data of child users in light of recent reports linking children’s unrestricted access to social media, online gaming platforms, and digital content to exposure to violent activities and tragic offline incidents including school mass shootings.

PHILIPPINES SCORES BELOW AVERAGE IN INTERNET CONNECTIVITY INDEX

The Philippines ranked 55th out of 97 countries in the Internet Connectivity Index, compiled by eSIM provider Saily. The index scores each country from 0 to 100 — the higher the score, the easier internet access is for travelers. The Philippines scored 49.52, below the global average of 50. Daily rates connectivity on four pillars: cyber safety, internet quality, internet freedom, and internet affordability.

GOV’T LIFTS TEMPORARY BAN ON DISCORD AFTER ONLINE SAFETY COMMITMENT

During the discussions, Discord pledged to address government concerns regarding nihilistic violent extremism (NVE), grooming, the radicalization of minors, and threats related to violence in schools and communities. The platform also agreed to enhance its child-protection mechanisms and streamline coordination with local authorities.

MOST CYBERCRIMES STILL TIED TO SIM CARDS DESPITE LAW – PNP

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has pushed for amendments to the SIM Card Registration Act, saying that despite its passage, almost all recent cybercrime cases in the country still involve subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards.

NATIONAL ID EYED AS PRIMARY AGE CHECK FOR SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

Lacson, principal author of Senate Bill No. 2424 or the proposed Child Online Safety and Protection Act, said it is necessary to simplify the process and remove technicalities and gray areas that could result in problems in its implementation. 

HOUSE PANEL OKS TOTAL SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR CHILDREN BELOW 13

A House of Representatives panel has approved a bill proposing a full social media ban for children below 13 years old, and restrictions on the technology’s use for those aged 13 to 18 to shield young people from harmful content online.

CICC ACKNOWLEDGES GAPS IN ITS UNDERSTANDING OF DISCORD USE

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) acknowledged Thursday that it was not aware of the extent to which Filipinos were using Discord for business, education and other purposes beyond gaming, saying the platform had not made these uses clear to the agency.

CICC INVOKES ‘PARENS PATRIAE’ DOCTRINE TO JUSTIFY DISCORD BAN

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has invoked the “parens patriae” doctrine, or the State’s role as protector of its citizens, in defending the government’s decision to block Discord in the Philippines, even as authorities lifted the restriction shortly after it was imposed.

PH UNVEILS $34-B ROADMAP TO BECOME ASEAN AI HUB

The Philippine government on Tuesday launched the final draft of the Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan (PAIIM) 2026-2033, a USD34.4 billion roadmap that seeks to position the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

NPC SEES NEED TO BOOST PRIVACY AWARENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is urging greater privacy awareness among social media users, particularly content creators who have turned online platforms into sources of income. Deputy Privacy Commissioner Juan Paolo Fajardo said social media users should not only protect their own personal information but also respect other people’s privacy.

PHILIPPINES’ MEDIA WATCHDOG CMFR TO CLOSE AFTER 37 YEARS

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a fixture of Philippine journalism’s post-dictatorship rebuilding, will shut down on September 30 after 37 years, citing mounting difficulty securing funds for its operations.

DEPED TO LAUNCH SCHOOL DIGITAL SAFETY DRIVE AS CAMPUS VIOLENCE RISES

The Department of Education (DepEd) is preparing to launch a School Digital Safety CDampaign for students, teachers, and parents, following recent school shootings, which underscored the need for an approach to safety that goes beyond what happens inside the campus.

NO COURT ORDER, NO BLOCK: RIGHTS GROUP SLAMS DICT AFTER DISCORD SHUTDOWN

Digital rights group Democracy.Net PH urged the Philippine government to stop blocking online platforms without due process, arguing that the Department of Information and Communications Technology and other agencies lack the legal authority to impose such restrictions.

CHILD RIGHTS GROUP OPPOSES BLANKET SOCIAL MEDIA BAN

Child Rights Network (CRN) on Tuesday said a blanket ban on social media for children under 16 promotes restriction rather than a solution, as lawmakers push to implement age restrictions on online platforms.

NTC SETS P100,000 DAILY FINE FOR POOR NCR MOBILE INTERNET

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has imposed daily fines on the country’s three mobile network operators over poor mobile broadband services in parts of Metro Manila.

SCAMS, OTHER CYBERCRIMES RISE TO RECORD 8% OF FAMILIES, SAYS SWS

Eight percent of Filipino families had at least one member fall victim to cybercrime in the six months leading to June, the highest level recorded by Social Weather Stations since it began tracking the figure in 2023.

PNP INTENSIFIES CYBERCRIME CRACKDOWN

The Philippine National Police (PNP) intensified its operational drive against online threats Tuesday following a sharp increase in the number of Filipino families reporting cybercrime victimization.

DICT CHIEF BACKS BILL REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE FRANCHISES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

In a press conference on Thursday, September 24, Aguda said that the measure is crucial for public safety and public service, as these digital platforms heavily impact the general public.

MARCOS TO GOV’T AGENCIES: USE AI TO IMPROVE SERVICES

In a message delivered by Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos during the ceremonial launch of the all-in-one government AI platform eGov AI in Manila on Monday, the President said the technology should be made to work for more Filipinos, as it could help improve public services and make everyday tasks more efficient.

PHILIPPINES URGES META TO REQUIRE NATIONAL ID FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Tuesday said it will ask Meta to integrate the Philippine national ID into account verification for its social media platforms. During a recent meeting in Singapore, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the Philippine government urged Meta to adopt the same measure that online gaming platform Roblox has promised to implement.

DISCORD BAN RATTLES GIG ECONOMY

The government’s short-lived blocking of Discord has raised concerns over the vulnerability of the local gig economy to abrupt platform restrictions, as freelancers and technology workers increasingly rely on digital services for their livelihoods.

DICT BACKS INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED ‘GHOST INTERNET’ PROJECTS

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it will fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding investigation into alleged irregularities involving government-funded IT and connectivity projects.

IF TALKS WITH META FAIL, CASES MAY FOLLOW, SAYS DICT’S AGUDA

Aguda, in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex, said that they have already discussed with Meta — owner and operator of social media sites Facebook, Instagram, Threads and messaging apps Messenger and Whatsapp — measures to keep children safe from possible harm.

HOUSE DEFERS CONSIDERATION OF DICT BUDGET AMID SCRUTINY OVER META ACCOUNTABILITY

Lawmakers are pressing for heavier platform accountability, prompting calls for Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg to address the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in a congressional inquiry centered on digital safety.

SENATE OKS ON 3RD READING BILLS PROTECTING CHILDREN VS ABUSE, VIOLENCE

The Senate on Monday unanimously approved on third reading the Sagip Bata Act and the Comprehensive School Safety Act – two bills protecting children in online spaces and schools. 

GENDERSCOOP

ACTION PUSHED VS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE ONLINE

At the 4th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Women Leaders’ Summit in Mandaluyong City, Marcos said removing barriers to women’s participation in the economy would help expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and strengthen inclusive growth across the region.

PHILIPPINES RETAINS SPOT IN GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX

The report, which tracks progress in closing the gender gap, showed that the Philippines maintained its ranking even as its gender parity score declined slightly to 78 percent this year from 78.1 percent last year.

HONTIVEROS PUSHES EXPANDED PROTECTION FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AGAINST VIOLENCE

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday sought to strengthen the country’s 22-year-old law protecting women and children from abuse by explicitly covering economic abuse, non-consensual sexual acts and technology-facilitated violence, including deepfakes and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.