Dakila: 120 Days of Temporary Victory

PRESS RELEASE
Dakila – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism
October 10 2012

(DISCLAIMER: Any opinions written in this post are Dakila Philippines' own and do not reflect the viewpoint of any other Naga City Deck and/or NCD Contributor)

120 Days of Temporary Victory

as Supreme Court Issues TRO on Cyber Crime Law

With a unanimous verdict, the Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order on the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 on Tuesday, October 9, amidst protests by different organizations, including the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance.

A total of 15 petitions were filed at the Supreme Court. Some grounds of the petitions include: the law as a violation of the right to privacy, to equal protection, and to free speech.

“Dakila lauds the Supreme Court for their decision. However, the TRO is only one step to the long road that lies ahead towards Internet Freedom. While freedom is not absolute, Dakila believes that the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 in its current form does not answer the needs of netizens and cyberspace. And as a country that takes pride in democracy, we cannot allow to have a law that sends a chilling effect on Filipinos and which may be used as an avenue for misuse and abuse,” Ayeen Karunungan, Dakila council member and PIFA spokesperson, said.

The TRO will last for 120 days and the oral arguments on the case will be held next year, January 15.

“We call for every citizen to remain vigilant and continue the fight for the law to be repealed. We call for our lawmakers to craft a law, together with the citizens, that will truly answer the needs and address the problems encountered in cyberspace. The Internet has helped transform the face of activism, how we protect it is now up to us,” Karunungan added.

Meanwhile, Dakila has been working with other groups including Access, an international group instrumental in the successful campaign against SOPA and PIPA, to research legislations in other countries that worked to prevent cybercrimes but also protects digital freedom.

Dakila is an organization of artists that teaches Digital Activism, a program that empowers advocates to strengthen their work through digital media and is a member of the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance.

For more info, contact Ayeen at 09175057055.

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Dakila: Black Tuesday Protest

PRESS RELEASE
05 October 2012
DAKILA

(DISCLAIMER: Any opinions written in this post are Dakila Philippines' own and do not reflect the viewpoint of any other Naga City Deck and/or NCD Contributor)

Black Tuesday Protest against Cyber Crime Law

gains support of International Digital Freedom Group

The global movement for digital freedom Access has launched a worldwide petition to Stop Cyber Martial Law in the Philippines. According to the petition, “With broad and unjust cybercrime laws being enacted around the world, we need to fight them one by one. That's why it's critical that the international community stands together on Black Tuesday.” (https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/stop-cyber-martial-law)

Access is an international NGO that promotes open access to the Internet as a means to free, full and safe participation in society and the realization of human rights. Access has been in the forefront of the international action against SOPA and PIPA. In an email sent to millions of Access members worldwide, Access pointed out “This defiant and democratic spirit has been seen before. Over 25 years ago, Filipinos fought and won to overcome martial law and institute a democratic government. But what makes this law's passage curious is that President Aquino is the son of Corazon Aquino, former president and leader of the opposition party that restored democracy in the Philippines in 1986. So many Filipinos are left wondering why the son of the leader who fought for their rights is allowing free speech to be taken away.”

The artist collective Dakila, a core member of the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance, has been working with Access to bring to the attention of the international community the fight against cyber martial law in the Philippines.

Ayeen Karunungan of Dakila said, “It is really saddening that the Cybercrime Law has actually done what SOPA and PIPA have failed to do. In fact, it turned out far worse than the two. While we all want to be protected from cybercrimes such as cyberbullying, the Cybercrime Prevention Act does not answer the problems we are facing but merely curtails our freedom of expression and sends a chilling effect on Filipinos. And all of this is happening as we commemorate the 40th year since the declaration of Martial Law in our country.” (https://www.accessnow.org/blog/100312-the-philippines-battle-another-martial-law)

In the twitter world, people from all over the world have been retweeting “This tweet’s safe, but 1 bad RT=12 yrs in jail under new Filipino #CyberCrimeLaw” to gain support for the petition. On Tuesday, the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance is set to hold another Black Tuesday to protest the Cybercrime Law as they wait for the Supreme Court en banc’s decision for the TROs. Access has called on the international community and netizens all over the world to stand together on Black Tuesday.

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