Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary Henry Aguda has submitted his resignation after First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos asked Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to remove him over a series of controversies, industry sources told Newsbytes.PH.
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 National Privacy Commission (NPC) has issued show-cause orders against Meta, Roblox, Reddit, and Discord over their alleged failure to comply with registration requirements under Philippine data privacy regulations.
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.
