UN Special Rapporteur urges PHL gov’t to drop charges vs. Rappler, Maria Ressa The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has called on the Philippine government to drop charges against news website Rappler and its CEO Maria Ressa. In a statement dated December 6, David Kaye claimed that the complaints against Ressa…
On day one, participants will be joined by bloggers and individuals representing various civil society organizations in the Freedom of Expression Conference 2 (FreeXP.con2). FreeXP.con2 will highlight the situation of freedom of opinion and expression (FoE) in the Philippines, which continues to be under threat with impunity. From human rights defenders, media and journalists, bloggers…
Freedom of Expression Conference Declaration We, human rights defenders and civil society organizations (CSOs) working for the defense and protection of human rights, gathered in Quezon City, Philippines, during the Freedom of Expression Conference, FreeXP.con organized by the Human Rights Online Philippines (HRonlinePH) on 1-2 December 2017; Reaffirming, that the right to freedom of expression…
FreeXP.con Freedom of Expression Conference FreeXP.con #WagMatakotMagpahayag Introduction Freedom of Expression Conference, FreeXP.con organized by the Human Rights Online Philippines https://hronlineph.com/ will highlight the situation of freedom of expression (FoE) in the Philippines, which continues to be under threat with impunity. From human rights defenders, media and journalists, bloggers and individuals who are critical of…
Defending human rights online in the time of Duterte by Arianne Christian Tapao, VERA Files Rights defender Rosemarie Trajano got the shock of her life when news broke that Caloocan City police got their information about Kian Loyd Delos Santos’ alleged drug running only from social media. The 52-year-old advocate is no stranger to threats.…
The Human Rights Online Philippines (HRonlinePH) http://www.hronlineph.com presents its project, “Protection and empowerment of human rights defenders in the Philippines”, supported by the British Embassy Manila, and key information on its experiences supporting the use of information technology in campaign and advocacy among communities of human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Philippines. The project was…
Human rights defenders call for safe environment online vs harassment, threats by Jodesz Gavilan, RAPPLER Human Rights Online Philippines’ project comes amid threats and harassment advocates have been receiving online ever since the start of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs MANILA, Philippines – A human rights organization is taking a stand against the…
The Paris Shooting: Barbarism, Terrorism and Hypocrisy by Jose Mario De Vega I joined the international community and the world in general in condemning to the highest possible extent and gravest degree the arbitrarily and heartless criminal and terroristic act committed by some bloody bastard freaks against the journalists (and two policemen) of the Paris-based…
France: An Attack on Free Expression Response to Charlie Hebdo Killings Should Protect Rights (PARIS, JANUARY 8, 2015) — French authorities should bring to justice those responsible for the horrific attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should guard against backlash against French Muslims…
ICT policy advocacy group joins ‘Black Tuesday’ EDSA Protest “Policies governing the cyberspace or in general, information and communications technology (ICT) should always be in the framework of rights,” reiterates Foundation for Media Alternatives, an organization active for pushing for the upholding of human rights in different ICT policy spaces. FMA joins the Filipino people…
Cyber Martial Law has been declared. Our freedom has been killed. EDSA is grieving. Join us on February 25, 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, as we once again fight for our freedom. (Check event page for details/updates – https://www.facebook.com/events/474592745997566/?ref=22) #StopCyberMartialLaw
PIFA to SC: “You missed your opportunity to champion Internet Freedom”February 21, 2014 The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the majority of the provisions of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) despite the petition of the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance (PIFA) to junk the law for being contrary to the democratic values and…
Media, netizens to mark EDSA with ‘Black Tuesday’ protest February 21, 2014 MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, netizens, and civil society groups will commemorate the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolt on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with a coordinated online protest against a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the constitutionality of online libel. The “Black Tuesday” protest…
Legal but not legit says Amnesty International on SC ruling for cyber-libel “News of the Supreme Court decision to uphold the cyber-libel provision of the Cybercrime Prevention Act is a cause of concern for the enjoyment of freedom of expression as it cements the further expansion of the reach of the highly questionable Philippine Libel…
The high court should not abdicate its duty to protect freedom of expression by Harry Roque February 18, 2014 “The high court should not abdicate its duty to protect freedom of expression. No less than the U.N. Human Rights Committee has already declared that Philippine Criminal Libel Law is contrary to Freedom of Expression. The…
Dear All, Below is a sign-on statement in support of the call to repeal Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and to end mass surveillance. If you or your organization wants to sign, kindly email nicadumlao@yahoo.com. Thanks! ———————————————————————– Nica Dumlao Program Coordinator Internet Rights Foundation for Media Alternatives Unit 209; No. 77 Xavierville Ave. cor B.…
A Question of Consistency and Justice: An Open Letter to President Putin Honorable Vladimir Putin President Russian Federation Dear Sir: I am writing to your person to once again humbly request for the immediate release of the ARCTIC 30 and the PUSSY RIOT ROCK band from detention. Specifically I am appealing to your conscience and…
What is wrong with a Kiss?: The Hypocrisy of Morocco’s so-called “public decency law” Is kissing in public a threat to the national security of the state? By Jose Mario De Vega I refer to Jessica Best’s “Moroccan teenagers arrested after posting kissing photo on Facebook”, The Mirror, October 5 and Al Jazeera’s “Morocco teenagers…
Black Tuesday: Mourning For Freedom of Expression Both Online and Offline The Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance (PIFA) continues its protest against the Cybercrime Law as the oral arguments resumed at the Supreme Court today after it has suspended its oral arguments last week. “We hope that the oral arguments will not be postponed today as…
In Defense of a Computer Wizard: Aaron Swartz, the Great One by Jose Mario De Vega On behalf of all the bloggers, hacktivists, and netizens of the world, I am sincerely offering my condolences and solidarity to the family and love ones of the late Aaron Swartz, the prominent American blogger and computer prodigy who…
