PH POISED TO BECOME SE ASIA’S DIGITAL-INFRA POWERHOUSE
The data center industry in the Philippines is booming, and the country is on track to become a major hub for digital infrastructure in Southeast Asia. This growth is driven by several factors highlighting the country’s strategic position and its commitment to technological advancement.
RESPECT RIGHTS IN ‘FAKE NEWS’ FIGHT, GOV’T URGED
Growing concerns over the proliferation of fake news after the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte have also prompted calls to ensure the protection of constitutional rights in the monitoring of public remarks, protest actions, and particularly online content.
NBI ZEROES IN ON FAKE NEWS BLOGGERS, TROLLS
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Thursday it is plotting a plan of action on online purveyors of fake news and disinformation, including those operating outside the Philippines.
LAWMAKER BACKS SELF-REGULATION TO COMBAT ONLINE FAKE NEWS
A self-regulating body composed of online content creators is the best approach to curbing the spread of disinformation, a lawmaker said Monday. Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman proposed the creation of the Digital Council of the Philippines, a non-government regulatory body aimed at setting ethical standards for digital content.
MALACAÑANG SEEKS REGULATORY BODY FOR SOCIAL MEDIA TO COMBAT ONLINE ABUSE
In a press conference held on Monday, March 3, PCO Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro stressed the “timely” need for a separate agency tasked with regulating social media. She cited the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas as examples of regulatory bodies in the country.
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE: CAN LAWS TAME DISINFORMATION, ‘FAKE NEWS’ WITHOUT CRUSHING FREE SPEECH?
Finding ways to regulate information online without infringing on free speech is like walking on a tightrope, an expert says. It’s a “delicate balancing act” that becomes even more precarious as lawmakers push for new legal measures.
DIGITAL COUNCIL TO CRAFT CODE OF ETHICS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PUSHED
A lawmaker on Monday proposed the creation of a Digital Council of the Philippines to craft its own code of ethics and combat the spread of fake news in the country.
DICT PUSHES FOR DIGITAL REFORM, SIMPLIFICATION OF GOV’T PROCESSES
The DICT is leading a major digital transformation in government transactions, addressing inefficiencies caused by redundant systems, fragmented data, and outdated processes.
MARCOS SEES PH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION UNDER NEW DICT CHIEF
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday swore in former UnionDigital Bank president and chief executive officer Henry Rhoel Aguda as the new Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
MARCOS TO DICT CHIEF: FOCUS ON CYBERSECURITY, INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda to focus on internet connectivity, digitalization and cybersecurity.
CICC, NGOS LAUNCH ‘JUANA TECH’ TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S DIGITAL LITERACY
In a news release on Thursday, the CICC said the program was launched at the National Cybercrime Hub in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Wednesday, in collaboration with NGOs Scam Watch Pilipinas, Women in Security Alliance Philippines (WiSAP), and the Journalism Studies Association of the Philippines, Inc. (JSAP) to highlight the celebration of International Women’s Month.
POE: PRINT MEDIA REMAINS CREDIBLE AMID FAKE NEWS SURGE
In a news release, Poe noted that while social media thrives on speed and virality, traditional print journalism upholds ethical practices, especially fact-checking.
SICK OF FAKE NEWS? TAP YOUR ‘EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE,’ ADVOCATE SUGGESTS
Marlon Nombrado, co-founder of Out of The Box Media Literacy Initiative, said that for nearly a decade now, the approach in combatting disinformation has always been focused on one’s cognitive abilities.
AFP CITES URGENT NEED FOR STRONGER CYBER RESILIENCE
During the GovX.0 Summit on Wednesday in Pasay City, AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla underscored the importance of a unified, whole-of-nation approach to cybersecurity, noting the increasing risks posed by foreign espionage, cyber attacks, and disinformation campaigns.
DICT FORTIFIES PH CYBERSAFETY WITH NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PLAN ’23-’28
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) 2023-2028, a comprehensive roadmap designed to protect Philippine institutions, resources, and citizens from the growing threat of cyberattacks.
INTERNET VOTING PRE-ENROLLMENT FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS BEGINS
The Philippines has officially started internet voting for the first time, as pre-enrollment for overseas voting opened on Thursday, March 20, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia.
COMELEC: BEWARE OF FAKE LINKS FOR INTERNET VOTING ENROLLMENT
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a warning to registered overseas voters to exercise caution when accessing links for internet voting enrolment, emphasizing the risk of fraudulent websites and scams.
‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’ BILL TO BOOST BROADBAND SECTOR, LOWER COSTS
Key Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) officials on Friday touted the positive impacts of the ‘Konektadong Pinoy (KP)’ bill that seeks to bolster competition and lower broadband costs in the country by removing barriers for internet service providers (ISPs).
PALACE: COLLAB WITH PRIVATE SECTOR VITAL TO BOOST CONNECTIVITY
Malacañang on Tuesday emphasized the importance of collaboration with the private sector to boost broadband connectivity, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
DICT’S CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVES ENVISION A DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE NATION
One of the key priorities of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration is to connect every island in the Philippines to the internet, creating a foundation where digital inclusion drives equitable progress for all Filipinos.
DICT SAYS IT FOILED 5.4-M CYBER ATTACKS
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has reported a significant surge in cybersecurity threats, saying it prevented approximately 5.4 million malicious attempts against 32 government agencies connected to national security operations in 2024.
STRONGER CYBERSECURITY MEASURES IN PH URGED
With cyber threats in the Philippines on the rise, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is urging stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat evolving digital risks. Adrian Hia, Kaspersky’s managing director for Asia-Pacific, emphasized the importance of collective action to safeguard the country’s digital landscape.
DOJ TO REVIEW CYBER LAWS IN BID VS MISINFORMATION, ‘FAKE NEWS’
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla made the announcement in response to questions about potential legal action against those disseminating false information.
INCLUSION OF CYBERCRIME, AI IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM PUSHED
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is encouraging teachers to incorporate cybercrime and artificial intelligence (AI) in their subjects to educate their students and prevent them from becoming victims.
CICC WILL INTENSIFY FIGHT AGAINST FAKE NEWS AND DEEPFAKES
The Cybercrime Investigation Coordinating Center (CICC) signed an agreement and will use new tools to fight fake news and deepfakes.
HEIGHTENED MEDIA LITERACY, FACT-CHECKING URGED AMID SLEW OF ONLINE MISINFORMATION
With misinformation surrounding the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the war on drugs spreading rapidly online, experts from the academe are calling for stronger Media and Information Literacy (MIL) programs and fact-checking initiatives to help the public critically evaluate politically sensitive narratives.
MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS URGE GEN ZS TO HELP COMBAT DISINFORMATION
During the Scholastic Outreach Program on Media and Information Literacy on March 20, Probe Managing Director Jen Aquino stressed the importance of youth in shaping the election conversation. Aquino emphasized that while Gen Z may not yet be voters, they have the power to influence the electoral process.
AFP UPHOLDS CIVILIANS’ FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN SOCIAL MEDIA
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday clarified that it does not issue any guidance or orders restricting the freedom of expression of civilians, including the family members of military personnel, in social media.
MORE EFFECTIVE ONLINE CONTENT MODERATION PROPOSED
Speaking at the House of Representatives Tri-Committee’s inquiry into fake news, Ruiz proposed adopting the European Union’s Digital Services Act as a model for curbing online disinformation, hate speech and harmful content while protecting free speech.
HERE’S HOW FILIPINAS ARE BEING PROTECTED ONLINE AND OFFLINE
The latest available data from the Foundation for Media Alternatives show women are disproportionately targeted in online gender-based violence in the Philippines, with 22.2% of reported cases in 2023 involving threats, blackmail, and abuse.
CDO CREATES SPECIAL ‘JUSTIC ZONE’ TO COMBAT ONLINE CHILD ABUSE
The city government has institutionalized its status as Northern Mindanao’s first “justice zone” against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC).
It created a coordinated legal framework to protect minors and prosecute offenders.
CALOOCAN LAWMAKER SUES ERICE FOR SLANDER
The race for the second congressional district of Caloocan has intensified after incumbent Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy sued her opponent, former representative Egay Erice, for violating the “Bawal Bastos” Law or Safe Spaces Act.
GABRIELA FILES COMPLAINT VS NTF-ELCAC FOR ALLEGED RED-TAGGING
Former Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, first nominee of the womens’ party list for Eleksyon 2025, wrote a letter to the Comelec, citing various incidents of alleged targeted harassment from the NTF-ELCAC.
GABRIELA CALLS OUT ‘ATTACKS’ ON WOMEN JOURNALISTS COVERING DUTERTE CASE
The sudden wave of attacks against women journalists covering developments of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has revived among his supporters a deep sense of misogyny he espoused during his administration, women’s rights group Gabriela said on Saturday.
APAYAO STRENGTHENS POLICY RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
With an increase in gender-based crimes in the province, the provincial government held a meeting to evaluate and update policy on mental health and violence against women and children (VAWC). The meeting’s primary goal was to develop an action-oriented network that would provide preventive, protective, and responsive interventions for victim survivors who are dealing with legal, socioeconomic, and mental health challenges as a result of the negative effects of abuse.
COURTS CONVICT NOTORIOUS ONLINE SEX TRAFFICKER
Mejia faced at least 11 charges of human trafficking and 15 charges for violation of the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act, separately filed before different courts, including Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 29 and RTC Branch 37 in Nueva Vizcaya, and RTC Branch 88 in Nueva Ecija.
DOJ FILES RAPS VS TEACHER FOR SEXUAL ABUSE, EXPLOITATION OF 2 MINORS
The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated on Wednesday that it had filed charges against a teacher in Tarlac for child sexual abuse and exploitation. According to the DOJ, victims AAA and BBB were 13 and 6 years old at the time of the event.
GARCIA FORMS INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL TO FIGHT ONLINE ABUSE OF CHILDREN
The Cebu City Government has formed an inter-agency action group to ramp up efforts against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and has presented an ordinance prohibiting OSAEC and child sexual abuse or exploitation materials (CSAEM).
NBI MONITORING USERS OF DEEPFAKES IN CAMPAIGN
NBI Director Jaime Santiago confirmed to The Philippine STAR in a Viber message that the agency will be monitoring everything related to cybercrime. This came after an initial report of Kontra Daya and Vote Report PH bared that most campaign violations consisted of red-tagging, using deepfakes and illegal campaigning.
CHR WELCOMES PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SAFE SPACES ACT IN SENATE
As the gender and child ombud of the country, the CHR welcomes this strengthened effort to hold offenders accountable for blatant harassment and inherently discriminatory acts, known to be commonly committed against women, children and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
SILENT NO MORE: HOW CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES FIGHT ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE IN PH
One out of every hundred Filipino children has been abused to produce fresh child sexual exploitation material. If this may happen to any child, how much more so for those with disabilities, who are isolated, disregarded, and put at even greater risk?
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