Internet

When trolls and propagandists occupy the Internet

My name is Bambi and I am a young street dancer awakened by the twerking movement of the 70s… That is, according to Wikipedia before we changed the text back to my true, albeit less vivacious, biography.

Apparently, I have what is now known as an Internet troll changing my Wikipedia page regularly.

My troll made me a Ninja Turtle a few times in the past and, though that is extremely flattering, I unfortunately don’t have the martial arts skills to back it up.

In the curious case of Bam’s Wikipedia page, the untruth is so outrageous that it’s clearly unbelievable.

But in other cases, it is not so easy to distinguish fact from fiction or, dare I say, propaganda.

These days, there are people whose job is to sway public opinion on social media, whether it’s a strategic communications campaign or a swarm of troll accounts flooding a comments section.

While creativity and innovation in marketing and communications is more than welcome, untruth and ill intentions are not easily detected.

The biggest phenomena of the Internet age, social media and search engines, incorporate paid advertising to the user experience and now, money can buy eyeballs as well as people to produce bots and troll accounts to post, like, share, and comment incessantly. Click on a regular troll on any popular Facebook page and you may find him or her lacking a true identity.

Online manipulation

This is a difficult pill to swallow when a large part of me prefers to engage people who genuinely agree or disagree, and are not being paid to do so.

There is a lot of manipulation happening online.

A far cry from the free marketplace of ideas that we envisioned the Internet to be, it has transformed into a lawless arena where gladiators compete for our likes, shares, eyeballs, clicks, and money by whatever means possible.

When we first discovered the World Wide Web, people celebrated the idea that anyone and everyone could use it as a venue to speak out, to share information, to formulate opinions and generate insightful discussions.

We found a space without propaganda or advertising, free from the control and influence of powerful politicians and wealthy businesses.

Today, what we have is a battleground of messages ceaselessly pushing us to buy a product, watch a video, share a meme, or vote for a particular candidate.

The boon and the bane of the Internet is the freedom it provides. Anyone can share information and go viral like the Al-Dub phenomenon and our DOTA2 related post about Team Rave that was shared 3,445 times!

This freedom also allows anyone to mask lies as truth and post it a hundred times from a hundred different accounts until it worms into your psyche.

Campaign season

So how do we take back the Internet?

Should we look at regulation to control trolling or do we leave it up to the websites to ban abusive language and verify identities?

Do we just tune out when confronted with abrasive comments, potentially ignoring opposing ideas that are worth our consideration?

Do we doubt everything we see online and limit our network to a curated circle, wasting the potential of an open, diverse, unpredictable debate?

Will we end up restricting our use of the Internet to that of self-expression?

How do we take the Internet back from the paid trolls and propagandists, especially during the campaign season where candidates have the machinery to invade both traditional and social media?

In our case, we take back our Wikipedia page by checking it everyday and updating it as often as possible. Perhaps, as users, more diligence is required when absorbing information.

Maybe there is a need to evolve our thinking – to be more analytical, to sift through the barrage of messages on the World Wide Web before we come to our own conclusions.

Bambi’s fearless forecast? The more trolls and propagandists attempt to take the Internet away from us, the more we will put up our own filters, exclude them from our circles, take their comments with a pinch of salt and heaps of humor, and find ways to generate free and open spaces for genuine dialogue and exchange of ideas.

First Published on Rappler.com

SRN-620: Impact of Slow and Expensive Internet Connection

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, COMMERCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPACT OF SLOW AND EXPENSIVE INTERNET CONNECTION PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTS EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ADVANCEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY

 

Whereas, Sections 13 and 19 of Article XII on National Economy and Patrimony of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provide that the State shall pursue a trade policy that serves the general welfare and utilizes all forms and arrangements of exchange on the basis of equality and reciprocity and shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires;

Whereas, the State recognizes the vital role of communications in nation building and it has become the objective of government to promote advancement in the field of telecommunications and the expansion of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the Philippines. Executive Order No. 59 (s 1993) required mandatory interconnection for other telecommunications firms and thereby encouraged investment in telecommunications infrastructure by service providers duly authorized by the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC);

Whereas, based on the State of the Internet report made by Massachusettsbased Akamai Technologies Inc., the Philippines had an average peak Internet connection speed of 32.6 megabits per second (Mbps) in the 4th quarter of 2013, representing a 103% quarter-on-quarter growth and a 144% rise from the same period in 2012. According to news reports, the Philippines’ average peak Internet connection speed is faster than that of China and several countries in the AsiaPacific region but its low use of broadband technology as well as high costs for Internet users compared to other countries mean slow average connection speeds for consumers. Reports showed that the Philippines had the slowest Internet connection among members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN);

Whereas, there is a need to ensure that all users of Internet services shall have access to it wherever they may be within the Philippines at an acceptable standard of service and at a reasonable cost. According to the “ASEAN Average Internet Speed Index 2014” report by the ASEAN DNA, the Philippines is at the bottom of the list of ASEAN countries (3.6 Mbps), way below the ASEAN average of 12.4 Mbps;

Whereas, Filipino consumers spend around One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) per month for Internet services with speed up to two (2) Mbps while some telecommunication companies offer speed up to five (5) Mbps at around Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00). Comparing the prices of Internet services among Southeast Asian countries, the cost to Filipino consumers is more expensive than Internet costs in Singapore and Thailand, which have the fastest Internet connections globally;

Whereas, in this era of advanced technology, improving Internet connection in the Philippines is crucial to the ASEAN Economic Integration (AEC) in 2015, which aims to transform the region into a single market and production base, and a highly competitive region. To maximize benefits from the AEC for the Filipino people, there is a need to promote an efficient and balanced flow of information into, out of and across the country by providing an environment for the emergence of communications structures that will benefit the vast majority of consumers in the country, which has broad economic growth spurred by increasing competition;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the impact of’ slow and expensive Internet connection provided to consumers which adversely affects ease of doing business in the Philippines and advancement of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the country.

 

PDFiconDOWNLOAD SRN 620

SRN-651: Cybersex Syndicates

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE OF MINORS BY CYBERSEX SYNDICATES AND THE RAMPANT SPREAD OF ONLINE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Whereas, the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The United Nations (UN) called the attention of countries around the world on the growing availability of child pornography on the Internet and other evolving technologies. In its conclusion, the UN Convention called for the worldwide criminalization of the production, distribution, exportation, transmission, importation, intentional possession and advertising of child pornography, and stressing the importance of closer’ cooperation and partnership between Governments and the Internet industry;

Whereas, in response to the State’s duty to protect the fundamental rights of every child from all abuse prejudicial to his/her development, Republic Act No. 9775 otherwise known as the “Anti-Child Pornography Law of 2009” was enacted into law. It provides that any person who employs, induces or coerces a child to be engaged or involved in explicit sexual activities, whether visual, audio, or’ written combination thereof, and knowingly distributes it in any manner;

Whereas, in a report by the United Kingdom online newspaper Daily Mail, at least 58 Filipino suspects have been arrested in connection to a Scottish teenager’s suicide following a threat to send compromising images of him to his family and friends unless he paid them. The widespread incidence of prostitution and pornography in the Philippines reaches every part of the globe through cyberspace, and cybercrime dens operating in the country have reached international victims;

Whereas, International watchdog Virtual Global Task Force listed the Philippines as among the top ten countries with rampant cyber pornographic activities involving mostly boys and girls age 10-14. Based on news reports, over 31 provinces are considered by the police as cybercrime “hotspots” for harboring cybersex and cyberporn hubs, and are being closely monitored. Reports showed that most patrons of these multi-billion-dollar cyber activities are from the United States of America and European countries;

Whereas, considering that the youth are the primary users of mass media, there is a need to ensure that those who have access to Internet Technology are protected from predators who search out children who are vulnerable and easily manipulated. To be involved in any way in child pornography will cause detrimental and irreversible effects to a child’s physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being;

Whereas, to address the rampant spread of child pornography, Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” was passed into law to further penalizes acts punishable under RA No. 9775 by one degree higher. While rigid measures have been adopted, the government should be able to properly implement these laws and the violators should be penalized accordingly. Only constant vigilance will start the possible eradication of these pornographic materials involving children, in the hope of building a nation that values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the Committee on Youth to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the exploitation and abuse of minors by cybersex syndicates and the rampant spread of online child pornography.

 

PDFiconDOWNLOAD SRN 651

Transcript of Sen. Bam’s interview after NTC public hearing on minimum internet speed

 

Q: Update po sa public hearing?

 

Sen. Bam: This is actually a public hearing ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) regarding the memorandum circular on publishing your minimum internet speed. Diyan sa public hearing, nagkaroon tayo ng iba’t ibang mga mungkahi, iba’t ibang mga suggestions at kuwento mula sa iba’t ibang stakeholders mula sa private sector at cause-oriented groups at pati na sa consumers.

 

Mukhang lumalapit na tayo sa pag-i-issue nito and the NTC committed na within March ilalabas na niya iyong memorandum circular, iyong patakaran kung saan kailangang i-publish ng ISPs or telcos iyong minimum internet speed na nakukuha ng ating mga kababayan.

 

At the end of the day kasi, mahalaga na ang binabayaran natin, nakukuha natin. Mawawala na ang misleading advertisements, at the same time, kung ano talaga iyong ma-e-expect sa pang-araw-araw na gawain, pati na sa ating Internet, sa telepono man or sa ating mga bahay, makukuha talaga ng taumbayan.

 

Right now, ang naging issue dito is yung batayan ng speed. Kasi maraming paraan kung paano pwedeng makuha ang speed sa iyong bahay o sa iyong lugar, ang mahalaga mayroon tayong isang batayan or a main standard. Part of that process was allowing NTC to purchase equipment, both hardware and software, para mayroon tayong official speed talaga ng isang ISP sa isang lugar.

 

Bawat telco, bawat ISP, may kanya-kanya silang mekanismo. Hindi naman tayo nag-a-agree. Ang mahalaga dito, all the stakeholders agreed that the NTC will be the official na tagabilang kung ano ang official speed sa inyong area. It’s now a matter of purchasing the equipment and providing the software, not just for the NTC pero para na rin sa consumers, para tayo rin, gamit ang software na iyon, puwede nating malaman iyong official na speed sa ating area at maibangga natin sa mga kontrata natin sa telco at ISP at malaman natin kung nakukuha natin ang nakasaad sa advertisements.

 

Q: May consumers tayo na can’t express ang reklamo nila…

Sen. Bam: Actually, malakas sila mag-express, especially online. Binabantayan na rin namin yan. The first step is really having this official standard. Kasi he said, she said iyan. Sasabihin ng isa na nakita ko sa isang website mababa, sasabihin naman ng telco, sa aming pag-aaral mataas naman iyan. Kaya ang NTC natin na siyang regulator, hindi makasabi kung ano dahil wala silang equipment at wala silang opisyal na batayan pagdating sa bilis at quality of service. With the equipment that they’re purchasing and this is a good step, hiningi nila ito last year, binigay naman sa budget, ngayon bibilhin na nila, magkakaroon tayo ng totoong standards. In the interest of fairness, an individual can check their speed at ang telco ay puwede nilang makita sa tool na iyan kung ano ang bilis nila sa isang particular area. In that sense, mailalapit natin kung ano ang user experience sa sinasabi ng ISP at telcos na binibigay nilang kalidad.

 

Q: Mensahe ho para sa consumers natin?

 Sen. Bam: We’ve been having this hearings for a number of months already. Tuluy-tuloy ang hearing, maging sa Senado o maging sa NTC. Hindi natin pakakawalan ito hanggang maabot natin ang sitwasyon na satisfied ang mga tao pagdating sa kanilang internet speed, price and access.

 

Mahalaga ito sa mga tao dahil this is the way we communicate with relatives abroad, ito ang paraan kung paano tayo nakakakuha ng trabaho at nakakapagnegosyo. The only way we can move forward if is all sectors are helping each other. Hindi na sapat na we blame each other. We need to built a right internet infrastructure – ano ang kailangang gawin ng gobyerno, ano ang kailangan niyang ilaang pera sa budget natin, ano iyong kailangang gawin ng ating regulators at kung ano ang kailangang gawin ng consumers. Kasi napag-uusapan din iyong responsibilidad ng consumers pagdating sa internet usage.

 

Of course, kung ano iyong kailangan nating makita mula sa ating telcos at ISPs. Ano ang paraan na kailangan nilang ipakita para makita natin na handa sila na ibigay sa taumbayan ang binabayaran ng tao para sa kanilang serbisyo.

 

Senate Bill No. 2637: Safer Internet Day (SID) Act of 2015

The Internet has been integrated into the daily lives of billions around the world, with the Philippines ranked 16th out of 196 nations in 2014 with over 39 million local Internet users.

Thanks to the World Wide Web, families here and abroad stay connected, news is readily available, our disaster preparedness has improved, and the business landscape is forever changed.

This bill calls for the celebration of National Safer Internet Day to acknowledge both the challenges and opportunities brought forth by this technology that has been integrated in the lives offamilies, communities and the country.

Through the celebration of National Safer Internet Day, the public would be made aware of the importance of creating a safe, secure and favorable online environment.

The Internet exposes the public to a wealth of information and varying perceptions. The lack of safeguards and controls on the web has allowed cyber abuses never before thought of.

What’s more, the Internet is constantly growing and changing. We are only beginning to understand its implications and tap into its capabilities.

National Safer Internet Day should be an annual reminder of our responsibilities as patrons ofthe Internet.

Beyond this, it is also a venue to discuss the constantly changing landscape of the World Wide Web and discover how best to maximize the ever-expanding online realm.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

 

 PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 2637

 

 

Sen. Bam: Slow Internet Affects Business Growth

Slow Internet connection adversely affects ease of doing business and hampers the advancement of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the country.

This was emphasized by Senator Bam Aquino as he formally filed a resolution calling on the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, which he chairs, to investigate the slow and costly Internet service in the country.

In his resolution, Aquino reiterated the need to ensure that all users of Internet services shall have access to it anytime and anywhere in the country at an acceptable standard of service and at a reasonable cost.

Aquino made the move after it was reported that the Philippines is at the bottom of the list of ASEAN countries (3.6 Mbps) in terms of Internet speed, way below the ASEAN average of 12.4 Mbps.

A report by the Massachusetts-based Akamai Technologies Inc. entitled State of the Internet mentioned that the Philippines’ low use of broadband technology as well as high costs for internet users compared to other countries mean slow average connection speeds for consumers.

A study commissioned by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and released by Boston Consulting Group (BGC), saying the Philippines is trailing its ASEAN neighbors in terms of Internet infrastructure.

The study also mentioned that the Philippines has the eighth most-expensive fixed broadband pricing among 65 countries included in the study.

Also, Aquino took notice of the expensive Internet service in the country where Filipino consumers spend around One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) per month for speed up to two (2) Mbps and around Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00) for speed up to five (5) Mbps.

“Comparing the prices of Internet services among Southeast Asian countries, the cost to Filipino consumers is way more expensive than the Internet costs in Singapore and Thailand, which have the fastest connections globally,” said Aquino.

The senator said improving Internet connection in the Philippines is crucial to the ASEAN Economic Integration, which aims to transform the region into a single market and production base, and a highly competitive region.

“We should provide an environment for the emergence of communications structures that will benefit the vast majority of consumers in the country which has a broad economic growth geared towards increasing competition,” Aquino stressed.

 

Sen. Bam Urges Stakeholders: Work for Better Internet System Before 2015

Better shape up or be left behind.

Senator Bam Aquino urged the government, local telecommunications industry and other stakeholders to find ways to quickly improve the country’s Internet systems, with the 2015 ASEAN Economic Integration fast approaching.

“With its slow and expensive Internet connection, the country may be left behind in the battle for the information and communications technology (ICT) market,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“We should step up and shape up or we will be eating dust from the competition,” added Aquino, who recently called for an investigation regarding the country’s slow and expensive Internet connection.

The lawmaker said the ASEAN is pushing for the strengthening of the ICT industry as it is seen as one of the drivers in the economic and social transformation of the region.

According to the ASEAN ICT Master Plan, Aquino said one of the main goals is to create conducive business environment to promote trade, investment and entrepreneurship in the ICT sector.

However, the senator expressed apprehension over the country’s capacity to compete with neighboring countries with far more advanced technology in terms of Internet connection.

“One of the foundations of a good ICT industry is a reliable and fast Internet service. If we don’t have that, the country’s chances to grab a lion’s share of the market is lessened,” Aquino stressed.

Aquino cited a study commissioned by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and released by Boston Consulting Group (BGC), saying the Philippines is trailing its ASEAN neighbors in terms of Internet infrastructure.

According to the report, the Philippines ranked 47th out of 65 countries covered by so-called BGC “e-Friction Index”, or factors that can inhibit consumers, businesses and others from fully participating in the national and the international Internet economy.”

The Philippines garnered an overall e-Friction score of 64, third among the six ASEAN member-countries covered by the report, behind Singapore (15th overall) and Malaysia (28th).

Thailand was one spot lower than the Philippines at 48th, Indonesia was 59th and Vietnam, 61st.

However, the Philippines was 53rd in terms of infrastructure friction component, composed of fixed- and mobile-broadband connections, bandwidth speeds, and pricing, among other things.

Also, the study showed the Philippines has the eighth most-expensive fixed broadband pricing among 65 countries included in the study.

“I called for an investigation to find solutions that will fix the situation and eventually, provide better service to consumers and improve the country’s business climate,” Aquino said.

 

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