AFP warned vs anti-cyber terrorism campaign

MANILA, Philippines - The military should come up with clear guidelines on the conduct of its anti-cyber terrorism strategy and ensure this will not violate the people’s rights, a social media consultant said yesterday.

Information and communications technology expert Tonyo Cruz said the Department of National Defense (DND) should disclose the nature of the “digital media capability” training being conducted by the military.

“There is no problem if the military will promote its views, sanitize information for the benefit of the public and solicit support through social media,” Cruz told The STAR in a phone interview.

“The problem begins if it starts to use its immense power to adversely affect free speech and expression,” he said.

Cruz was reacting to reports that the military is training some of its soldiers to counter the supposed dissemination of false information about the situation in Marawi City.

Earlier, Brig. Gen. Rolly Bautista, chief of the Army’s 1st Tabak Division, said that after the Marawi siege erupted, his men underwent training on digital media to counter cyber-terrorism.

Bautista said participants in the training became the core members of Task Force Marawi, which was formed to look for and counter the propaganda and fake news being disseminated on social media by the terrorists and their supporters.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has repeatedly warned the public against falling victim to sympathizers of the Maute terrorists currently holed up in Marawi.

“Other militaries have social media networks to win the hearts and minds of the public… That’s part of their job, to inform the public of what they do. What we are wary of are trumped-up charges, spying or surveillance of the public not associated with the Maute group,” Cruz said, noting an earlier announcement of the military that it would censure online contents deemed supportive of the terrorist group.

“For example, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Lanao is critical of martial law. Would its communications be tapped? Would that fall under its right to censure?” he said. –  With Lino de la Cruz