THE digital environment should be safe for all users, aside from being conducive to growth innovation, think tank Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit said.
This as Manhit noted that incidents of cyberattacks in the country increase, including online piracy.
Stratbase earlier expressed support for the revision of Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
“Alongside defense and the economy, the digital environment must not only be conducive to growth and innovation but also safe for all users, from individuals and households to private enterprises and public offices,” Manhit said.
“Recent instances of cybersecurity breaches have brought attention to the extent of the damage that can be caused by such incidents,” he added.
Manhit acknowledged the government’s move of adopting the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as cybersecurity plays an important role in the digital era.
“They can range from individual hackers out for a thrill, a criminal syndicate wanting to rake in profits, to a nation-state wanting to cripple its target’s critical infrastructure for economic or political purposes,” the think tank president said.
One of the cybersecurity issues the country is facing is the increasing number of pirated content being consumed online.
According to YouGov survey, commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), 70 percent of the population said they consume pirated content via online streaming this year, which is higher than the 58 percent posted in 2023.
Manhit said solving cybersecurity threats is a shared responsibility to “aid in maintaining a safe and secure digital environment.”
“Cyberspace is being weaponized and is a clear and present threat that we must be ready to repel at all levels of our society,” he said.
The passage of the two bills in the Senate, which aim to curb online piracy, would help empower government agencies to go after suspicious sites and take action against them.
“Online criminals and intellectual property thieves have gotten away with many things in the past. These people unjustly enrich themselves by profiting from the work and resources and that rightfully belong to others. They must be stopped now,” Manhit said.