MARCOS TOLD TO VETO ‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’ BILL DUE TO SECURITY RISKS

A consumer group on Wednesday appealed to President Marcos to veto the “Konektadong Pinoy bill,” a measure that the Congress has already ratified and is now up for his signature.

35 GROUPS CALL FOR SIGNING OF KONEKTADONG PINOY BILL

THIRTY-FIVE organizations on Wednesday called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to approve the Open Access in Data Transmission measure, also known as Konektadong Pinoy bill in the face of aggressive lobbying for a Presidential veto, noting that the issues raised against the bill are “unfounded.”

PALACE HITS AI-GENERATED ‘FAKE NEWS’

Officials should not peddle “fake news” as it could erode public trust, Malacañang said, after Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte shared a video that turned out to be created through artificial intelligence (AI) showing students defending Vice President Sara Duterte.

UN RAPPORTEUR: NO MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN STATE OF PHILIPPINE FREE SPEECH

The Philippines under the Marcos government has done some efforts, but “not enough to make a meaningful difference” in the state of freedom of speech, according to the newest report of Irene Khan, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion.

CHR CALLS FOR MORE LEGAL PROTECTION FOR MEDIA WORKERS

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday called on the government to provide more legal protection for media workers “to ensure press freedom, dissent, and civic participation.”

FILIPINO CONCERN OVER ONLINE DISINFORMATION HITS RECORD HIGH, REPORT FINDS

Concern over online mis- and disinformation in the Philippines climbed to a record 67% in early 2025 amid a politically charged midterm election season that saw Vice President Sara Duterte impeached on corruption charges and former president Rodrigo Duterte arrested by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity tied to his brutal drug war.

GATCHALIAN: BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE TO BOOST ECONOMY, SERVICES

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to accelerate Internet expansion efforts nationwide, warning that digital inequality continues to hinder progress in education, commerce, and public service delivery.

OVER 11K STUDENTS, EDUCATORS TAKE PART IN GLOBE’S DIGITAL PROGRAM

More than 11,600 students and educators nationwide participated in Globe Telecom’s Digital Thumbprint Program promoting responsible digital citizenship and privacy awareness. Globe said DTP tackled real-world issues such as data privacy, cyber safety, and identity protection which aims to empower users across all sectors to be more mindful of their digital footprints and to contribute responsibly to the digital community.

MARCOS OPEN TO MEETING WITH KONEKTADONG PINOY STAKEHOLDERS

President Marcos is open to meeting with stakeholders to discuss the issues surrounding the Konektadong Pinoy bill, a proposed measure to boost internet access in the country that has triggered concerns over perceived security and regulatory implications.

SET SOCMED ACCOUNTS TO ‘PUBLIC’, US VISA APPLICANTS TOLD

“Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States,” the US Embassy in Manila said in an advisory on Tuesday.

SOTTO EYES STRONGER TAKEDOWN RULES VS. FAKE NEWS IN SENATE COMEBACK

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Sotto said while he supports press freedom and free expression, there must be accountability for those who knowingly spread falsehoods.

DICT CHIEF SAYS GOV’T-FLAGGED ‘FAKE NEWS’ POSTS ON FACEBOOK TO BE DEMOTED BY META

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda told the House of Representatives that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, had agreed to lower the reach of posts identified by the Philippine government as false.

PCO URGES DIGITAL CONTENT CREATORS TO SUPPORT NATION-BUILDING, COMBAT DISINFORMATION

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has called on digital content creators to become active partners in nation-building and to uphold the values of truth, responsibility, and patriotism in their work, amid growing concerns over the spread of fake news and disinformation online.

MORE THAN 25% OF FILIPINOS STILL WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS

DESPITE expanded 4G network coverage across the Philippines, more than a quarter of Filipinos remain disconnected from the internet—primarily owing to affordability issues, not infrastructure gaps, a study showed.

DICT WANTS INTERNET SERVICE COSTS DOWN BY AS MUCH AS 50%

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking to bring down internet service provider (ISP) costs by as much as 50%, with the expected increase in competition and facility sharing.

MARCOS VOWS WIDER INTERNET ACCESS IN REMOTE SCHOOLS

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s push for digital transformation in Philippine education, vowing to expand Internet connectivity in public schools, especially in remote and underserved areas.

VOTERS SAY NEWS ON TV, SOCIAL MEDIA MOST HELPFUL INFORMATION SOURCES IN 2025 POLLS – SURVEY

A Pulse Asia Research Pulso ng Bayan Survey showed that news about candidates was considered the most helpful source of information by almost all registered voters, or 93%, when it came to deciding whom to elect in the midterm polls held on May 12.

AI-FUELED CYBERATTACKS ON PH ORGANIZATIONS ON THE RISE – CYBERSECURITY FIRM

A recent survey by American cybersecurity firm Fortinet together with the International Data Corporation (IDC) shows that organizations in the Philippines are facing a rise in cyberattacks, following global trends. The escalation is two-fold: there are more attacks, and these attacks are deemed to be more potent. 

GEN ZS’ TENDENCY TO OVERSHARE INFO LEADS TO CYBERCRIMES – REPORT

In a report, Kaspersky said Gen Zs may be the most tech savvy among generations, but their tendency to post every activity online is also recoiling as a threat to their digital life.

AI WITHOUT RULES CAN HARM THE PUBLIC, EXPERTS WARN

As AI systems continue to expand rapidly across Southeast Asia, the symposium—organized by the Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN) of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the University of the Philippines (UP) System—called for clearer safeguards and enforceable AI regulations to ensure public interest is protected while supporting innovation.

DEPED: STUDENTS SHOULD DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING TO FIGHT ‘AI FAKES’

The Department of Education (DepEd), meanwhile, is now working on establishing a dedicated AI research center to help Filipino learners understand and navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

MORE FILIPINOS TURNING TO AI AS SOURCE OF NEWS — REPORT

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, released on Tuesday, highlighted two “major emerging themes” in the global consumption of news, one of which is the use of AI chatbots as a source of news.

MARCOS SHOULD CERTIFY AS URGENT BILLS VS FAKE NEWS, SAYS SOLON

Bills that seek to penalize the spread of disinformation, along with increased scrutiny regarding misinformation on social media, should be certified as urgent by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said.

DICT TO META: ACT VS FAKE NEWS, DISINFORMATION

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Aguda said he has asked the global tech giant to apply its community standards strictly in the country, as it does in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, and get it to implement geographical blocking of fake news content in social media accounts in the Philippines.

DICT RAMPS UP 1326 HOTLINE, PARTNERS WITH PCO TO CURB ONLINE SCAMS, FAKE NEWS

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is strengthening its 1326 hotline to improve how the government responds to cybercrime, scams and disinformation, a DICT official said Friday, June 6.

WHY FILIPINOS SEE POLITICIANS AS THE TOP SOURCE OF DISINFORMATION

The 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report released on June 17 found that Filipinos are more likely than people in other countries to blame politicians for the spread of false information online.

ANTI-FAKE NEWS BILL SEEKS UP TO 12-YEAR JAIL TIME, P2M FINE FOR DISINFO PEDDLERS

A fresh legislative push to tackle disinformation has emerged in the House, with a bill targeting not only the creation and spread of false content but also the organized networks behind them.

ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, MARCOS SAYS FAKE NEWS, ABUSIVE OFFICIALS BANES OF FREEDOM

On the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to protect the freedom they are enjoying now by fighting fake news and for public officials to be accountable for their actions.

DICT: ‘KONEKTADONG PINOY ACT’ TO NARROW DIGITAL DIVIDE IN PH

The DICT on Thursday said the 2025 GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index (MCI) Report, which placed the Philippines with a slightly lower score of 67.69 compared to 68.31 in the previous year, is a “timely reminder of the work that remains in achieving universal, reliable, and affordable digital access for all Filipinos.”

WOMAN NABBED FOR EXPLOITING CHILDREN ONLINE

Police arrested a 35-year-old woman from Iligan City for allegedly exploiting her three children online. The suspect is facing charges for violating Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Child Pornography), RA 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act (Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act), RA 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2012, and RA 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

MEDIA GROUP SLAMS DENIAL OF ADVOCATES’ PROPER VISIT TO DETAINED JOURNALIST CUMPIO

The Movement for Media Safety Philippines says Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s case reflects ‘a broader pattern of harassment and legal persecution faced by journalists in the Philippines’

ONLINE CHILDREN EXPLOITATION IN DAVAO REGION VASTLY UNDETECTED

Authorities here recently lamented the lack of digital equipment and other monitoring tools to detect the rising incidence of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).  This year, government authorities only monitored seven cases affecting 11 child victims in the Davao region, an increase from the two cases monitored in 2023 and four cases in 2024.

‘ALSO ONLINE’: SUPPORTING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN

“Also Online” campaign by Terre des Hommes Netherlands was Launched to empower parents and caregivers with tips, tools, and conversation starters around online safety. It aims to foster open, judgement-free dialogue and close the inter-generational digital divide .

RECOGNIZING ONLINE CHILD ABUSE DETECTION GAP

Gemma D. Dela Cruz, assistant regional director for operations at DSWD-Davao, cited poverty as a key driver behind Osaec and CSAEM, with some treating their children as a source of income. She also pointed to a lack of awareness about the severity of penalties and the nature of these crimes.

AGUDA TEAMS UP WITH TELCOS TO LAUNCH REAL-TIME DASHBOARD VS DEEPFAKES, ILLEGAL SITES

The Philippines is stepping up its digital defenses with a new unified dashboard set to launch next month, aimed at curbing the spread of deepfake videos and illicit websites, according to Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda.

VIVA ARTISTS AGENCY ISSUES WARNING OVER DEEPFAKE VIDEO OF ANNE CURTIS

Viva Artists Agency, the talent management company representing Anne Curtis, warned the public about a circulating deepfake video featuring the actress. On Instagram, VAA expressed alarm over the unauthorized and manipulated use of the TV host’s likeness on a Facebook page titled “Investment Illumination.”

HOLDING THE LINE WITH PRIDE: A LEGAL GUIDEBOOK FOR THE VULNERABLE VOICES
Justice with Pride: LGBTQIA+ Community Legal Guidebook in the Philippines is a groundbreaking publication designed to equip LGBTQIA+ individuals and advocates with the tools to assert their rights and access justice in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

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