‘Threat to ban Reddit, Discord akin to China repression’

MANILA, Philippines —  A tropical depression is set to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) today and will be given the local name Queenie, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.Threats to ban social media sites nationwide emulate China’s draconian measures, according to civilian proponents of the proposed Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom.

Democracy.Net.PH said the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has no mandate to ban digital channels from reaching the Philippine internet.

“Under our democratic system, only courts can restrict freedoms,” the group said.

The CICC earlier issued a 24-hour ultimatum requiring online forum Reddit and messaging platform Discord to designate representatives and establish a physical presence in the Philippines.

Banning Reddit and Discord would be similar to the Great Firewall of China, the group said, referring to Beijing’s regulation and censorship of the internet.

“In these trying times, the government must stop performative theater and turn to rights-bound, legal solutions that will truly address these problems,” the group said.

Establishing local offices in the Philippines would allow social media platforms to coordinate with authorities in combating online child abuse and its materials, the CICC maintained.

School shootings have occurred in Tacloban, Zamboanga and South Cotabato in the last three months.

Authorities are hunting down a person suspected of orchestrating the South Cotabato incident by inciting the 16-year-old Grade 9 student who perpetrated the attack.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they have identified the suspect who, through online conversations, influenced the minor to shoot students at the Banga National High School on Sept. 18.

“They prey upon their insecurities, telling them that they will be glorified if they do something like this,” Remulla said. “It’s a very insidious way of inciting that kind of hate.”

The shooter’s father, an employee of the Department of Education, has been relieved from his post since Sept. 21 as project development officer II in the education support services division in Region 12, DepEd chief media relations officer Denni Legaspi said.

Reddit, Discord pledge

After responding to the DICT’s ultimatum, Reddit and Discord have been granted deadline extensions.

The tech firms have pledged to establish local offices and strengthen child safety controls in the country. – Evelyn Macairan, Rainier Allan Ronda