Don't get suckered in by the thousands of social media posts celebrating the conviction of Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, who was found guilty of cyber libel charges Monday.
Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte employ an army of trollers to flood the social media sites with attacks on Ressa and Rappler in order to give the impression of wide popular support for the current strongman living at Malacanang Palace.
Its a strategy that has worked before flor the Duterte regime. Flood the online traffic with falsehoods and misinformation. Some say it this media manipulation got Duterte elected and drummed up support for his controversial vigilante war on the illegal ddrug industriy.
A University of Oxford study published last in 2017 entitled “Troops, Trolls and Troublemakers: A Global Inventory of Organized Social Media Manipulation,” included the Philippines among the countries where troll armies have been used by the government to flood the virtual world with misinformation.
The report suggests Duterte has a “keyboard army” that makes it appear that their is wide support for his government policies.
According to Rappler, these hired trollers would create false accounts using photos of Philippine celebrities to spread misinformation during Duterte's 2016 campaign against his opponents, a tactic that seems to be revived during and after Ressa's trial.
Meanwhile, international organizations reacted to the verdict.
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| Maria Ressa gave virtual interviews after her conviction. |
Meanwhile, international organizations reacted to the verdict.
The United States is concerned by the trial court’s verdict against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos and calls for resolution of the case in a way that reinforces the U.S. and Philippines’ long shared commitment to freedom of expression, including for members of the press.
“This verdict is a sham and should be quashed. Ressa, Santos and the Rappler team are being singled out for their critical reporting of the Duterte administration, including ongoing human rights violations in the Philippines. The accusations against them are political, the prosecution was politically-motivated, and the sentence is nothing but political.
“With this latest assault on independent media, the human rights record of the Philippines continues its free fall. It is time for the UN to urgently open an international investigation into the country’s human rights crisis, in line with the recent conclusions of the UN Human Rights office itself.
“Ressa and her team have become global icons for press freedom after President Duterte himself has repeatedly singled them out for attack, intimidation and harassment. They face a long battle ahead, with several more politically motivated charges awaiting trial.
“With this latest assault on independent media, the human rights record of the Philippines continues its free fall. It is time for the UN to urgently open an international investigation into the country’s human rights crisis, in line with the recent conclusions of the UN Human Rights office itself.
“Ressa and her team have become global icons for press freedom after President Duterte himself has repeatedly singled them out for attack, intimidation and harassment. They face a long battle ahead, with several more politically motivated charges awaiting trial.
The Guardian
Under another president, the US would strongly press Manila over Ms Ressa’s case. But Donald Trump loves authoritarians and has normalised and enabled the abuses of press freedom that are now increasing worldwide. As his administration stands by, making only the most feeble statement, others must take a stand. While the UK has rightly expressed concern about the case, it should now work with others to defend media freedom.
It is not merely that Ms Ressa and her colleagues need and deserve support: her case has such frightening implications beyond her own country. When Mr Duterte is given a free pass for his behaviour, other leaders take note. Without freedom of the media, it is impossible to protect other freedoms: citizens cannot know what is being done in their name. Journalists are targeted because they sound the alarm. They must not be silenced.
Asian American Journalists Association-Asia
The Asian American Journalists Association’s Asia Chapter (AAJA-Asia) condemns the conviction of Maria Ressa, Rappler’s CEO and Executive Editor, and Reynaldo Santos, former Rappler researcher-writer, over ‘cyber libel’ charges by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday, 15 June 2020 ...
The court sentenced Ressa and Santos to a minimum 6 months and one day to a maximum of 6 years in jail over charges filed by Wilfredo Keng, a Filipino businessman, about an article published by Rappler in 2012 — four months before the new cyber libel l
Following the shut down last month of the popular news broadcaster ABS-CBN, this decision is regarded by concerned international observers, including AAJA-Asia, as the latest in a series of moves by President Duterte’s administration to intimidate and silence news media in the Philippines.
Rappler, one of the country’s most influential news websites, has been unflagging in its reporting of the extrajudicial killings and abuses that have accompanied Mr. Duterte’s brutal war on drugs. Ms. Ressa has faced in recent months no less than 11 government investigations and court cases attempting to force Rappler to stop its reporting.
AAJA-Asia unequivocally stands in full support of Ms. Ressa, Mr. Santos and all Filipino media and journalists in this new attack against press freedom that critically undermines the right for every citizen in the Philippines to access free, independent news. We join with organizations around the world to call for an end to the prosecution of journalists who are simply doing the brave job of reporting inconvenient truths in the Philippines.
The Asian American Journalists Association’s Asia Chapter (AAJA-Asia) condemns the conviction of Maria Ressa, Rappler’s CEO and Executive Editor, and Reynaldo Santos, former Rappler researcher-writer, over ‘cyber libel’ charges by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday, 15 June 2020 ...
The court sentenced Ressa and Santos to a minimum 6 months and one day to a maximum of 6 years in jail over charges filed by Wilfredo Keng, a Filipino businessman, about an article published by Rappler in 2012 — four months before the new cyber libel l
Following the shut down last month of the popular news broadcaster ABS-CBN, this decision is regarded by concerned international observers, including AAJA-Asia, as the latest in a series of moves by President Duterte’s administration to intimidate and silence news media in the Philippines.
Rappler, one of the country’s most influential news websites, has been unflagging in its reporting of the extrajudicial killings and abuses that have accompanied Mr. Duterte’s brutal war on drugs. Ms. Ressa has faced in recent months no less than 11 government investigations and court cases attempting to force Rappler to stop its reporting.
AAJA-Asia unequivocally stands in full support of Ms. Ressa, Mr. Santos and all Filipino media and journalists in this new attack against press freedom that critically undermines the right for every citizen in the Philippines to access free, independent news. We join with organizations around the world to call for an end to the prosecution of journalists who are simply doing the brave job of reporting inconvenient truths in the Philippines.
San Francisco Chronicle
Ressa, 56, has never been timid about going after the wealthy and powerful. She has been fearless in exposing Duterte’s false statements and his brutal war on drugs, which has resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings. The state of independent news coverage in the Southeast Asian nation has deteriorated to the point that it now ranks 136 out of the 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index.
International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), President Joyce Barnathan
The ICFJ called June 15 "a devastating day for journalism."
“This is a miscarriage of justice ... Maria is facing a bevy of charges designed to silence her and Rappler. If journalists are muzzled, democracy itself is at stake. ICFJ condemns Maria's conviction and calls for all other charges against her to be dropped.”
"For the Philippines in particular, this is a devastating blow to a country once known for a vibrant, free press. Ressa has often said that her case is the 'canary in the coal mine' for independent journalism everywhere. Journalists worldwide need to do what they do best: report facts, seek the truth, and hold the powerful to account."
International Press Institute, IPI Executive Board chair Markus Spillmann
"On behalf of the IPI Executive Board, I deplore the convictions of my fellow IPI Board member Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos. This is a sad day for journalism and press freedom not only in the Philippines but around the world. Let us be clear: Maria Ressa has been convicted for her fearless journalism and speaking truth to power. This ruling serves as a warning to all independent journalists in the country."
“The global IPI community stands behind Maria Ressa and we will support her fight for justice and for the right to do her work freely.”
Ressa, 56, has never been timid about going after the wealthy and powerful. She has been fearless in exposing Duterte’s false statements and his brutal war on drugs, which has resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings. The state of independent news coverage in the Southeast Asian nation has deteriorated to the point that it now ranks 136 out of the 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index.
International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), President Joyce Barnathan
The ICFJ called June 15 "a devastating day for journalism."
“This is a miscarriage of justice ... Maria is facing a bevy of charges designed to silence her and Rappler. If journalists are muzzled, democracy itself is at stake. ICFJ condemns Maria's conviction and calls for all other charges against her to be dropped.”
"For the Philippines in particular, this is a devastating blow to a country once known for a vibrant, free press. Ressa has often said that her case is the 'canary in the coal mine' for independent journalism everywhere. Journalists worldwide need to do what they do best: report facts, seek the truth, and hold the powerful to account."
International Press Institute, IPI Executive Board chair Markus Spillmann
"On behalf of the IPI Executive Board, I deplore the convictions of my fellow IPI Board member Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos. This is a sad day for journalism and press freedom not only in the Philippines but around the world. Let us be clear: Maria Ressa has been convicted for her fearless journalism and speaking truth to power. This ruling serves as a warning to all independent journalists in the country."
“The global IPI community stands behind Maria Ressa and we will support her fight for justice and for the right to do her work freely.”
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