‘Partly free’ is how Freedom House, a US-based organization supporting human rights advocates and programs, categorized the Philippines in terms of our adherence to what it calls “internet freedom”, or what we may also call “online freedom”.
The country scored 61 out of 100, down from four points from its 2022 rating, based on three categories: obstacles to access (16/25); limits on content (23/35); and violations of user’s rights (22/40).
The scores reflect the sharpest decline among Asia-Pacific countries in terms of online freedom because of the enactment by the government of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the SIM Card Registration Law, the report titled ‘Freedom on the Net 2023’ said.
Freedom House said President Marcos Jr. continued policies put in place by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, that were roundly criticized for being repressive.
Among these was the enactment of a law previously vetoed by Duterte requiring mobile phone users to register their subscriber information module (SIM) cards under their real names, or face deactivation.
The group claimed this “undermined anonymous communication in what remains a dangerous environment for journalists and activists.”
Under this law, SIM card owners are required to register with their service providers within six months to avoid deactivation, and users who purchase new cards will need to provide their personal information and a valid photo identification document at the point of sale.
The law imposes fines for failing to register SIM cards, as well as criminal penalties of up to two years in prison for providing false information or fraudulent identification documents during registration, and up to six years for SIM card “spoofing,” or manipulation to commit fraud.
The current administration, Freedom House said, also retained a government order issued under Duterte that restricted 257 websites, including those of several news outlets known for critical reporting, using the Anti-Terrorism Law as the basis. The blocking order is now being challenged in court by a media outfit.
The group also noted that since the start of the Marcos Jr. administration onn June 30, 2022, to April 30, 2023, at least 10 cases of libel and cyberlibel have been filed against media workers.
Surveillance is also a growing concern in the Philippines, Freedom House said, because of the increase in “budget allocations for intelligence funds and funds for surveillance activities in civilian government agencies.”
Given all this, the conclusion that internet freedom in the country is only “partly free” is not off the mark, and underscores the need for government to uphold, rather than undermine, the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution under a democratic system.