‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’ BILL LAPSES INTO LAW

The measure allowing new internet service providers to operate in the country without a legislative franchise or Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) lapsed into law on Sunday.

SAFEGUARDS SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE PROMISE OF ‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’

While the “Konektadong Pinoy” law could open the floodgates to new investments in the telecommunications sector, experts said the absence of tough safeguards could expose Filipinos to substandard services and cybercrimes.

PALACE URGES MEDIA TO STAY ACCOUNTABLE IN DIGITAL AGE

Speaking to media practitioners at the Ibis Styles Hotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City, Castro recognized the vital role of the Philippine press in safeguarding democracy by providing accurate, fair, and transparent information to the public.

CHR AND PTFOMS FORGE STRONGER PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT MEDIA WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND SAFETY

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) have formalised a landmark partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 27 August 2025 at the CHR Central Office in Quezon City. The agreement seeks to bolster efforts to safeguard the rights of media workers amid persistent threats, harassment, and violence faced by journalists in the country.

ASEAN: ICJ AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA URGE A RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH TO COUNTERING HARMFUL ONLINE CONTENT

On 24–26 August 2025, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), together with the Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ), and the Numun Fund, gathered human rights defenders and experts to discuss the need for Southeast Asian States to adopt and implement a human rights-based approach in efforts to tackle the growing spread of harmful content in digital spaces.

CANADA, PHILIPPINES BOLSTER CYBERSECURITY TIES TO BATTLE EVOLVING THREATS

Senior officials from the Canadian and Philippine armed forces and the Philippines’ National Defense Department discussed shared challenges and opportunities, including artificial intelligence (AI), critical infrastructure protection, and joint training and technical exchanges.

THE PHILIPPINES: BUILDING A CONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE DIGITAL FUTURE

Bulacan is fast becoming a national example of inclusive digital transformation, as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) strengthens efforts to expand connectivity, streamline government services and reduce the digital divide in the province.

THE PHILIPPINES: CHARTING A PATH TO A SECURE, INCLUSIVE AND DIGITAL FUTURE

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the Philippines’ commitment to building a digitally empowered, inclusive and future-ready society while addressing emerging challenges in the digital age at the Manila Tech Summit 2025.

CYBERATTACKS, DISINFORMATION PART OF ‘SHADOW WAR,’ ANALYST SAYS

Cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns are part of a growing “shadow war” targeting Filipinos, a policy analyst warned on July 23, calling for the government to treat cybersecurity as a matter of national security.

PHILIPPINE CENTRAL BANK ORDERS E-WALLETS, PAYMENT APPS TO REMOVE ONLINE GAMBLING LINKS

The Philippine central bank ordered mobile wallets, payment applications and other institutions to remove links to online gambling platforms as the nation seeks to curb the booming industry that’s raised social concerns.

PH FENDS OFF 1,200 DAILY CYBERATTACKS —PNP CHIEF

The Philippines is facing a relentless wave of cyber threats, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) reporting that it fends off around 1,200 cyberattacks every day, while also struggling with being ranked No. 1 in the world for child online exploitation and guarding sensitive biometric data of its citizens.

‘CYBERCRIMES DROP AMID POGO BAN’

In a report released after his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos noted that the number of reported cybercrime incidents dropped from 21,300 in 2023 to 14,529 in 2024.

PNP, LTO INK PACT TO BOOST CAMPAIGN VS. CYBERCRIMES

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday forged a partnership to bolster cooperation in safeguarding data privacy, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and combating cybercrimes, including online scams and the proliferation of fixers in land transportation transactions.

NPC, PNP-ACG ACCORD TO BOOST CYBERCRIME RESPONSE, DATA PROTECTION

The MOU will strengthen the NPC’s ability to act “swiftly and decisively in addressing threats, respond with clarity in moments of crisis, and coordinate seamlessly in the pursuit of accountability.”

INSIDE PHILIPPINE GOV’T’S PLAN TO UPSKILL WORKERS IN AI

The academy will offer practical training tailored to industries such as finance, healthcare and emerging digital fields. Courses will cover AI integration, including roles such as AI specialists, prompt engineers and cybersecurity professionals.

BRIAN POE CALLS FOR INVESTMENT IN AI, WARNS AGAINST LAGGING BEHIND SEA

House Appropriations Vice Chair Brian Poe pressed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to accelerate investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that the Philippines risks falling behind its regional neighbors if it fails to act quickly.

ANTI-FAKE NEWS BILL SEEKS HARSHER PENALTIES VS ERRING GOV’T EXECS, JOURNOS

Two House of Representatives lawmakers are reviving the push to criminalize fake news in the 20th Congress, this time with harsher penalties for public officials, journalists, and social media influencers who deliberately spread disinformation.

MERALCO EXEC JOE ZALDARRIAGA ADVOCATES MEDIA LITERACY TO COUNTER MISINFORMATION

Speaking at the launch of the DFA’s “Truth, Talk and Tactics” media and information literacy program, Zaldarriaga’s shared knowledge and insights on addressing misinformation and disinformation – a cause he has been advocating for years.

MANILA CITY LAUNCHES DIGITAL LITERACY FESTIVAL TO EMPOWER YOUTH ONLINE

From combating misinformation and cyberbullying to responsibly harnessing AI and leveraging technology for social, civic, and climate action, the festival centers on youth empowerment through digital literacy.

DICT BEGINS ROLLOUT OF FINAL PHASES OF NAT’L FIBER BACKBONE

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Tuesday announced it has begun the rollout of the final phases of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB), under the P16.1-billion Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project, in Butuan City.

10 WOMEN HAVE SUED THE TEA APP AFTER USER PHOTOS WERE HACKED AND LEAKED ONLINE
Ten women have filed class-action lawsuits against the Tea Dating Advice app after a massive data breach exposed private messages and approximately 72,000 images—ranging from selfies to government IDs—leaked online despite the app’s promise of anonymity and safety.

SCHOOLS TAPPED IN FIGHT VS TRAFFICKING, ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Region 11 is collaborating with educational institutions in Davao to implement information and education campaigns aimed at raising awareness among parents and school counselors about human trafficking and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), with the goal of maintaining the region’s Tier 1 status in combating human trafficking.

BINI TAKING LEGAL ACTION AMID ONLINE HARASSMENT?

P‑pop girl group BINI has formally filed a legal complaint—confirmed by their lawyer, Atty. Joji Alonso—against an unnamed individual following weeks of online harassment, including sexually suggestive remarks from social media personality Christian “Xian” Gaza, though details about the respondent and nature of the case remain undisclosed.

DICT CALLS FOR STRICTER INTERNET SAFEGUARDS FOR MINORS

DICT emphasizes the need for enhanced protections for minors by combining proactive parental guidance (“digital parenting”), educational outreach, and technical safeguards across digital platforms and public networks.

CHANGE IN MOTION: OUR COMMUNITY SHAPING TECHNOLOGIES FOR SOCIAL, GENDER AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
In the first half of 2025, APC’s global network—spanning 74 countries—mobilized decentralized, community-driven initiatives to advance a “feminist internet,” environmental justice, human rights, and locally rooted connectivity alternatives through cooperative campaigns, digital justice forums, policy advocacy, and capacity-building across borders.

UN EXPERT CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE BAN ON SURROGACY

An international group of experts—including a UN-linked specialist—has called for a global ban on surrogacy, arguing it commodifies women and children and cannot be made ethical.

WHEN WOMEN’S STORIES LEAP INTO THE LIGHT: SUNSHINE TEAM OPENS UP ON THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN YOUNG WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES AND WHY IT MATTERS

The creative team behind the coming-of-age film Sunshine bravely risked limited commercial return and navigated sensitive realities—like teenage pregnancy and bodily autonomy—by centering young women’s stories authentically, building a committed team of believers, and sparking crucial societal and policy conversations.

TOOLS FOR REPORTING ONLINE VIOLENCE ARE BROKEN. HERE’S HOW TO FIX THEM

Social media platforms’ reporting systems for online harassment have become increasingly ineffective—burdensome, retraumatizing, and siloed—prompting calls for a universal, trauma-informed reporting infrastructure that prioritizes user safety, efficiency, and cross-platform collaboration.

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