‘Red-tagging’ of journalists looms over Philippine elections
As Philippine presidential candidates wind up their campaigns before the May 9 election, journalists in the country are demanding that whoever succeeds President Rodrigo Duterte put an end to “red tagging” – the labeling of individuals as rebels or supporters of the communist insurgency – that helped put their colleague Frenchiemae Cumpio behind bars. Cumpio, the 23-year-old executive director…
Hold the Line Coalition condemns 16 new legal complaints against Maria Ressa and Rappler
Ahead of national elections in the Philippines on May 9, the State has stepped up its attacks on Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa and the news outlet she leads, Rappler. “This dramatic escalation in the legal harassment of Maria Ressa and Rappler highlights the urgent need for the Philippines’ to decriminalize libel and do away with laws…
Why the UN’s push for a cybercrime treaty could imperil journalists simply for using the internet
Cybercrime is on the global agenda as a United Nations committee appointed to develop a treaty on the topic plans for its first meeting amid pandemic-related delays. The process is slated to take at least two years, but experts warn that such a treaty – initially proposed by Russia – could hand new tools to…
CPJ congratulates Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for winning the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
New York, October 8, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists congratulates journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who were awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize today. Their award comes at a time of unprecedented attacks on journalists in the form of sweeping crackdowns, digital surveillance, and an erosion of public trust in journalism. “Dmitry…
#HoldTheLine Coalition welcomes dismissal of cyber libel charge against Maria Ressa and calls for remaining charges to be dropped
New York, August 12, 2021 – The #HoldTheLine (#HTL) Coalition welcomes the dismissal of a cyber libel charge against Rappler CEO and founder Maria Ressa in the Philippines — the second spurious charge against Ressa to be dropped in just two months. The #HTL coalition calls for all remaining charges to be immediately dropped and the…
#HoldTheLine Coalition calls for new cyber libel charge to be dropped and pressure ceased against Maria Ressa
The #HoldTheLine Coalition condemns new legal threats against Rappler founder and CEO Maria Ressa and calls for a second, trumped-up criminal cyber libel charge to be dropped. Ressa posted bail after the new arrest warrant was filed on November 27, and will appear in court on Friday, December 4. The new cyber libel case was…
#HoldTheLine Coalition calls for criminal tax charge to be dropped as Maria Ressa returns to court
The #HoldTheLine Coalition demands the Philippines authorities drop a barrage of bogus tax and foreign ownership cases against internationally celebrated journalist Maria Ressa and Rappler – the news organisation she founded. “The prosecution of baseless financial charges and cases represents an attempt to use tax law and foreign ownership regulations as another weapon to criminalise…
#HoldTheLine campaign launched in support of Maria Ressa and independent media in the Philippines
Sixty press freedom groups and civil society organisations, journalism institutions, filmmakers, and other supporters have formed a coalition in support of Maria Ressa and independent media in the Philippines, united around the call to #HoldTheLine. Today the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announced the…
CPJ calls on Philippine authorities not to contest editor Maria Ressa’s cyber libel appeal
Bangkok, June 15, 2020 — Philippine authorities should not contest the appeal of journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos, and should reform the country’s libel laws to ensure that members of the press do not face jail time for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, Branch 46 of the Manila…
Rappler editor Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel by Philippines court
Bangkok, June 15, 2020 — In response to the guilty verdict in the cyber libel case against Rappler editor Maria Ressa in the Philippines, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s conviction and sentencing of Maria Ressa of up to six years in jail is an outrageous crime against press freedom,” said…