Online lenders, expensive internet, digital dilemmas: The FMA Digital Rights Report

Here’s what you need to know this week: The National Privacy Commission took decisive action when it banned 26 lending apps that unlawfully process lenders’ personal data and publicly shame them for unpaid debts. The NPC ordered the following online lending companies to stop processing personal data: Cash bus, Cash Read more…

Revisiting the advocacy for freedom of information in the Philippines

Transparency and accountability are two foundational principles of democracy. As such, they are well entrenched in the Philippine Constitution, which provides for the right of Filipinos to hold the government and public officials accountable for any or all of their mistakes or shortcomings. The signing of Executive Order (EO) №2 Read more…

Joint statement: The Philippine Identification System Act and its IRR proceedings

We, the undersigned, as civil society organizations and concerned citizens of the Philippines, express our grave concern for the recent proceedings regarding the promulgation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11055, or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act. During the weekend of September 22, the Read more…

Need for national ID system must be pitted against legitimate dangers

On Wednesday, February 28 2018, the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) released a briefing paper on the long-standing effort by government to establish a national ID system in the Philippines. The paper, entitled “The National ID Debate: Is the Philippines Ready?” presents the much-touted benefits of an identity management scheme Read more…