The Philippines - UN Human Rights Summit hosted Council of Europe’s head of Information Society Patrick Penninckx outlining The Global Landscape of Freedom of Expression on the Internet in a webinar on “Freedom of Expression and Data Privacy on Social Media” webcasted on 10 December. The speaker highlighted the challenges of the new digital environment and the Covid-19 pandemic on freedom of expression as well as explained the protection provided by Convention 108 and its additional protocol, and the Convention of Cybercrime, areas of ongoing cooperation between the Philippines and the Council of Europe.

Organised by the Ministry of Justice of the Philippines, the webinar features also talks on rights and remedies for freedom of expression on social media in the Philippine legal framework, electronic evidence and cyber libel, data privacy on social media and cybersecurity measures. The impetus for the event was brought by the impact Internet has made on many aspects of human lives including the way we communicate with friends and family, gather and share information, and express opinions. Covid-19 has accelerated the digital transformation. The increasingly captivity to internet and social media raises growing concerns on digital etiquette, cyber bullying and cyber libel.

The Philippines have joined the Committee of Convention 108 in 2017 as an observer, benefiting from an international network for mutual legal assistance and co-operation and developing standards to ensure an appropriate level of protection for individuals in the digital age. In 2018 the Philippines have also become party to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime taking active part in capacity building activities under GLACY project on Global Action on Cybercrime. As of January 2020, the number of internet users in the Philippines grew to 73 million people, or 69% of country’s population.