On press freedom, elections and AI: the FMA Digital Rights Round-up (May 1-31, 2025)

COMELEC LAUNCHES KAISA PROJECT AHEAD OF DECEMBER BARANGAY, SK POLLS  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December. Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay said that Project KAISA stands for “Katapatan at Integridad para Read more…

In Digital Rights Report 2024, FMA spotlights AI’s impact on basic freedoms

In 2024, the country marked the 30th anniversary of the Philippine internet. First accessed in 1984, the internet has opened a wealth of opportunities for Filipinos to connect, learn, and access information. But three decades since, it has also shown how technology can deepen existing socio-political crises, especially in the Read more…

On artificial intelligence, disinformation, and cybersecurity: The FMA Digital Rights Round-up (February 1-28, 2025)

PHILIPPINES REPORTS FOREIGN CYBER INTRUSIONS TARGETING INTELLIGENCE DATA, BUT NO BREACHES Attempts to steal data are wide-ranging, said minister for information and communications Ivan Uy. Advanced Persistent Threats or APTs have repeatedly attempted but failed to infiltrate government systems, suggesting the country’s cyber-defences have held firm. SENATE APPROVES BILL TO Read more…

On cyber threats, elections and disinformation: the FMA Digital Rights Round-up (October 1-31, 2024)

SURVEILLANCE BUSINESS MODEL DRIVES DATA EXPLOITATION, THREATS TO PRIVACY – EXPERT Meredith Whittaker, president of The Signal Foundation, warns of the ‘deeply perverse consequences’ of abusing personal data for various purposes. MARCOS SIGNS VAT ON FOREIGN DIGITAL SERVICES LAW President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law on Wednesday a Read more…

On cybersecurity, elections, and press freedom: the FMA Digital Rights Round-up (September 1-30, 2024)

GSIS ASSURES MEMBER DATA SAFETY AFTER SECURITY BREACH The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Friday assured its employees, members, and pensioners that their personal information remains secure following a confirmed security incident involving a compromised administrator account on a test computer. DIGITAL DIVIDE: GROWING RIFT BETWEEN BIG TECH AND Read more…

Algorithms of Abuse: Addressing Online Gender-Based Violence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

As a global leader in social media usage, the Philippines’ environment of pervasive disinformation, paired with a culture of patriarchal gender constructs, foster democratic backsliding and authoritarianism (Kunze et al., 2021). With the country’s low level of media literacy, Filipino people are especially vulnerable to the threats brought by internet Read more…