Amnesty International’s latest report reveals that the Philippine government is exploiting Facebook to suppress young activists’ rights through a campaign of intimidation and harassment known as red-tagging. The report highlights systemic issues including online harassment, surveillance, and misuse of laws, demanding the end of these practices and accountability for instigators.
In a chilling report released on Monday, Amnesty International revealed the Philippines’ distressing misuse of Facebook to stifle the voices of young activists. This coordinated assault on free speech and peaceful protest has manifested as a campaign of intimidation deeply rooted in state-sponsored harassment. Instead of fostering dialogue, government entities, along with security forces, have weaponized the platform, deploying tactics such as ‘red-tagging’—labeling individuals or organizations as terrorist sympathizers without substantiation. This alarming trend not only threatens individual safety but often acts as a precursor to graver human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances. The research illuminates a dystopian reality for young activists, who find themselves ensnared in an online web of harassment, relentless surveillance, and criminalization under the contentious 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act. According to Damini Satija, head of Amnesty Tech, this insidious red-tagging culture has escalated especially on Meta’s Facebook, where public accusations by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) run rampant, labeling student organizations as “fronts” for communist activity despite a complete lack of evidence. The shortcomings in Meta’s content moderation have only fanned the flames of this dangerous rhetoric, permitting hazardous misinformation to proliferate unchecked. Amnesty International has made a clarion call for an end to red-tagging, challenging the Philippine government to cease all acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against young activists. The abolition of the NTF-ELCAC and a call for a transparent investigation into its practices have become urgent demands of the organization. The roots of this crisis deeply intertwine with the history of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, where a hardline approach marked by systemic repression has risen; it all commenced following the disintegration of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines in 2017. Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 catalyzed a fierce campaign against perceived leftist entities, leading to the establishment of the NTF-ELCAC. In a recent development that emphasizes the dire stakes involved, the Philippine Supreme Court, in a ruling made on May 8, 2024, recognized the severe threat red-tagging poses to fundamental human rights—affecting life, liberty, and security. This pivotal judgment overturned an earlier 2023 decision by a lower court that had dismissed an activist’s plea for protection. Carlos Conde, senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, underscored the significance of this ruling, stating it “acknowledges the suffering” inflicted by red-tagging and dovetails with concerns from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the government’s counter-insurgency tactics.
The campaign of red-tagging in the Philippines has evolved into a weapon for the government, primarily utilized to silence dissent and stifle the rights of young activists. Backed by policies like Duterte’s Executive Order No.70 aimed at defeating local communist insurgents, this practice has escalated dramatically since 2017. With Facebook as a primary battleground, young individuals find themselves targeted by a barrage of false accusations and intimidation. The consequences of these actions include not just social media harassment but also potential state violence, creating an atmosphere of fear and silencing opposition.
Amnesty International’s report highlights a troubling intersection of technology and state control, illustrating how social media platforms like Facebook have become instruments for suppressing dissent in the Philippines. The new wave of red-tagging threatens not only the safety of young activists but also undermines fundamental human rights. As the world watches, the demand for immediate action against these practices becomes increasingly urgent, calling for accountability and reform to protect the rights of individuals who dare to challenge the status quo.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
