Five technology professionals and digital rights advocates have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to invalidate the government’s nationwide blocking of Discord and prohibit similar restrictions on websites and social networking platforms, arguing that the agencies involved acted beyond their authority.
Former CHEd chairperson Prospero “Popoy” De Vera and PIDS senior research fellow Jose Ramon Albert have criticized the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) over their decision to block Discord and lift the restriction shortly afterward.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has invoked the “parens patriae” doctrine, or the State’s role as protector of its citizens, in defending the government’s decision to block Discord in the Philippines, even as authorities lifted the restriction shortly after it was imposed.
A legal analysis by Geronimo Law said blocking an entire website or application amounts to prior restraint on expression and is presumptively unconstitutional, citing the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and the Supreme Court’s rulings.
Reports that Discord had become inaccessible on some Philippine networks drew criticism from users and technology advocates, who questioned the effect on legitimate online communities and the legal basis for blocking the platform.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has given Reddit and Discord 24 hours to designate local representatives in the Philippines, warning that the platforms could face restrictions or blocking if they fail to comply.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) have ordered government agencies and critical infrastructure operators to assess their security risks and take urgent protective measures within 24 hours amid reported cyberattacks on government systems.
The Department of Justice–Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) are developing a common framework for classifying and reporting cybercrime cases across government agencies.
A lawmaker has called on the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to explain how it plans to handle 30,000 cybercrime cases in 2027 despite its staffing vacancies and a proposed reduction in funding for its core program.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has flagged 12 Facebook pages and accounts for allegedly promoting unregulated online gambling websites, including several with millions of followers.
