Cyber Martial Law in the Philippines
Tens of millions of internet users in the Philippines woke up Wednesday to a new reality: Sharing a link, clicking ‘Like’ on Facebook, or retweeting a message could land you 12 years in jail.¹
The Cybercrime Prevention Act, which just came into effect, is so broad and loophole-ridden that a wide range of online activity could be considered libelous. Even if you don’t write the material, just sharing it with someone online could land you in prison.
In the face of this unjust law, Filipinos have been protesting in the streets and online to stand up for their rights. An alliance of organizations, bloggers, media, and everyday citizens have come together and brought international attention to their cause, and have reached a tipping point.²
That’s why they have come to us for help. With elections just around the corner, we’ve been told that many politicians are downright scared of a national and international backlash, giving us the opportunity to convince them to junk this law for good. And we know there’s nothing like an election to get politicians to listen.
Click the link below to call on lawmakers to stand up for freedom of expression, and repeal the CyberCrime Prevention Act. We’ll deliver your signatures to Filipino lawmakers next week so they know where the world stands.
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