Philippines’ Nobel laureate Maria Ressa loses appeal of cyber libel conviction

Maria Ressa, above, and her former colleague Rey Santos Jr face lengthy jail sentences. (AFP)
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Updated 08 July 2022
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Philippines’ Nobel laureate Maria Ressa loses appeal of cyber libel conviction

  • Case was filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng over a 2012 Rappler article that linked him to illegal activities
  • Rappler co-founder Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and journalist Rey Santos Jr. face more than six years in prison

MANILA: Philippine journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa lost her appeal against a conviction for cyber libel, a court announced on Friday, days after authorities ordered her online news site Rappler to shut down.

Ressa and former Rappler journalist Rey Santos Jr. face more than six years in prison in a case filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng over a 2012 Rappler article that linked him to illegal activities. Keng filed the complaint in 2017.

In 2020, a regional court in Manila convicted Ressa and Santos — a decision both of them appealed.

The Court of Appeals of the Philippines dismissed their petition saying they “should have been more circumspect in what they published.”

“They are not media practitioners with a lack of social following; their words reverberate,” Associate Justice Roberto O. Quiron said in the court’s ruling shared with the media.

“This case comes at a time when the credibility of journalists is needed more than ever, when their tried-and-tested practice of adhering to their own code of ethics becomes more necessary, so that their truth may provide a stronger bulwark against the recklessness in social media.”

Rappler said in a statement that Ressa and Santos will use all legal remedies, including elevating the decision to the Supreme Court for review.

“While the decision is unfortunate, it is also a good opportunity for the Supreme Court to take a second look at the constitutionality of cyber libel and the continuing criminalization of libel, especially in light of the freedom of expression and freedom of the press,” the publication said.

“The decision weakens the ability of journalists to hold power to account. We call on our media colleagues, our community, and other advocates of a free and independent press to be vocal and vigilant now more than ever.”

The ruling comes less than two weeks after the Philippine corporate regulator ordered Rappler to shut down, upholding a decision to revoke its certificates of incorporation over what it said was a breach of a ban on foreign ownership of media outlets.

Co-founded by Ressa in 2012, Rappler has been known for its tough scrutiny of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The shutdown order was upheld on June 28, two days before the end of Duterte’s term in office.

Ressa, who last year became the first Nobel laureate from the Philippines — sharing the prize with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov — was recognized by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for efforts to safeguard freedom of expression and her work and criticism of the Duterte regime’s “war on drugs”— an antidrug policy that since 2016 has since led to the deaths of thousands of Filipinos, mostly urban poor, and drawn international condemnation.


Meta must face US state lawsuits over teen social media addiction

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Updated 26 sec ago
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Meta must face US state lawsuits over teen social media addiction

  • Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by various plaintiffs accusing the social media companies of designing addictive algorithms that lead to anxiety, depression and body-image issues among adolescents, and failing to warn of their risks

CALIFORNIA: Facebook parent company Meta must face lawsuits by US states accusing it of fueling mental health problems among teens by making its Facebook and Instagram platforms addictive, a federal judge in California ruled on Tuesday.
Oakland-based US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected Meta’s bid to toss the claims made by the states in two separate lawsuits filed last year, one including more than 30 states including California and New York and the other brought by Florida.
Rogers put some limits on the states’ claims, agreeing with Meta that a federal law known as Section 230 regulating online platforms partly shielded the company. However, she found that the states had put forward enough detail about allegedly misleading statements made by the company to go forward with most of their case.
The judge also rejected motions by Meta, ByteDance’s TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Snap’s SnapChat to dismiss related personal injury lawsuits by individual plaintiffs. The other companies are not defendants to the states’ lawsuits.
The ruling clears the way for states and other plaintiffs to seek more evidence and potentially go to trial. It is not a final ruling on the merits of their cases.
Lawyers for the personal injury plaintiffs in a joint statement called the ruling “a significant victory for young people nationwide who have been negatively impacted by addictive and harmful social media platforms.”
A Meta spokesperson says that the company disagreed with the ruling overall and that it had “developed numerous tools to support parents and teens,” including new “Teen Accounts” on Instagram with added protections.
The other social media companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The states are seeking court orders against Meta’s allegedly illegal business practices and are seeking unspecified monetary damages.
Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by various plaintiffs accusing the social media companies of designing addictive algorithms that lead to anxiety, depression and body-image issues among adolescents, and failing to warn of their risks.

 


Israeli army allegedly using Palestinians as human shields, New York Times reports

Updated 15 October 2024
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Israeli army allegedly using Palestinians as human shields, New York Times reports

  • Testimony describes Palestinian civilians being used to scout for booby traps, shield, search for hidden tunnels, bombs
  • Probe found at least 11 military squads using tactic with knowledge of senior commanders

LONDON: Israeli soldiers have been using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza to minimize their own battlefield risks, according to a New York Times investigation released on Monday.

The report, based on testimony from Israeli soldiers and former Palestinian detainees, reveals that Israeli forces regularly force captured Palestinians, including teenagers, to carry out dangerous tasks during combat operations.

While the full extent of these operations is unclear, the practice — illegal under both Israeli and international law — has reportedly been employed by at least 11 military squads in five different cities in the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence officers are said to have been involved in several of the incidents.

In one instance, Mohammed Shubeir, a Palestinian arrested by Israeli forces in March at the age of 17, was held for 10 days without charge. Shubeir claims that during this time he was handcuffed and forced to walk through the streets of Khan Yunis, scouting for booby traps set by Hamas militants.

Another testimony by Jehad Siam, a 31-year-old Palestinian graphic designer, recounted how he and a group of detainees were forced by Israeli soldiers to walk ahead of advancing troops in a militant stronghold in Gaza City, risking their lives to shield the soldiers from ambush or explosives.

The report also alleges that Palestinians were used to move large objects, such as generators and water tanks, and search for hidden tunnels or bombs under dangerous conditions.

These kinds of practices, the newspaper claims, have become more frequent and widespread since the beginning of the conflict.

The New York Times spoke to seven Israeli soldiers who confirmed either witnessing or participating in the practice, describing it as organized and conducted “with considerable logistical support and the knowledge of superiors on the battlefield.”

Eight other soldiers and officials, speaking anonymously, corroborated widespread use of the tactic. Three Palestinians gave on-record accounts of being used as human shields, although the New York Times noted that no evidence was found of detainees being killed or injured.

In response, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement condemning the practice, emphasizing that its “directives and guidelines strictly prohibit the use of detained Gaza civilians for military operations.” The IDF said it would investigate the allegations.

This is not the first time Israel has faced such accusations. Israeli newspaper Haaretz in August published a similar investigation describing how Israeli soldiers forced Palestinian civilians to wear military uniforms and scout dangerous locations in Gaza under remote supervision.

A practice known as the “neighbor procedure” was used by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank in the early 2000s, in which civilians were forced to approach the homes of militants to urge them to surrender. Israel’s Supreme Court banned this tactic in 2005, ruling that the use of human shields violated both Israeli and international law.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 42,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. The international community has repeatedly condemned Israel for the high civilian casualty rate, which Israeli officials attribute to Hamas’ tactic of embedding fighters and weapons in civilian areas, effectively using communities as shields.

According to the New York Times, some soldiers have reported being told that the lives of “terrorists” were less valuable than Israeli lives. However, many detainees have been released without charge after officers determined they had no affiliation with any militant groups.


Taliban-run media stops showing images of living beings in some Afghan provinces

Updated 15 October 2024
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Taliban-run media stops showing images of living beings in some Afghan provinces

  • Kandahar have been advised not to air or show images of anything with a soul – meaning people and animals
  • No other Muslim-majority country imposes similar restrictions, including Iran

ISLAMABAD: Taliban run-media have stopped showing images of living beings in some Afghan provinces to comply with morality laws, an official confirmed Tuesday.
In August, the country’s Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws regulating aspects of everyday life like public transportation, shaving, the media and celebrations reflecting authorities’ interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.
Article 17 bans the publication of images of living beings, sparking concerns about the consequences for Afghan media and press freedom.
A spokesman for the Vice and Virtue Ministry, Saif ul Islam Khyber, said government media in the provinces of Takhar, Maidan Wardak and Kandahar have been advised not to air or show images of anything with a soul — meaning people and animals.
Khyber said a day earlier that the ministry was responsible for implementing the morality laws.
He did not clarify if the rules affected all media, including foreign outlets, or only Afghan channels and websites.
Nor did he say how the laws would be enforced or if there was a deadline for compliance.
No other Muslim-majority country imposes similar restrictions, including Iran. During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban banned most television, radio and newspapers altogether.


Lebanese demand justice for journalist killed by Israeli tank fire

Updated 14 October 2024
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Lebanese demand justice for journalist killed by Israeli tank fire

  • CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg said that “in spite of extensive evidence of a war crime, a year on from the attack, Israel has faced zero accountability for the targeting of journalists”

BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanese journalists and activists Sunday demanded justice for Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed a year earlier in what probes said was Israeli tank fire while covering cross-border clashes in south Lebanon.
Two strikes in quick succession on October 13, 2023 killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, 37, and wounded six other journalists including AFP photographer Christina Assi and video journalist Dylan Collins.
Assi later had a leg amputated and spent five months in intensive care in hospital as a result of the attack.
Two investigations have pointed to an Israeli tank being behind the attack, but Israel has denied it targets “civilians, including journalists.”
Friends and acquaintances on Sunday shared photos Abdallah had taken, or pictures of him.
Legal Agenda, a non-governmental organization, posted on social media: “A year after the killing of photographer Issam Abdullah, Israeli impunity continues.”
Lebanese rights group Maharat called on the international community to “implement treaties, resolutions and commitments to protect journalist.”
In a post on X, journalist Salman Andary demanded “justice for Issam and for all the victims of this crime.”
Economist Jad Chaaban wrote on X: “Israel killed... Abdallah, by shelling a clearly marked press spot in the South of Lebanon.”
“The Israeli army is still carrying out mass executions until today with total impunity,” he said.
After nearly a year of cross-border fire, Israel on September 23 escalated its campaign targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
More than 1,200 people have since been killed in Lebanon, according to a tally of official figures, and more than a million have been displaced.
On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists decried a lack of accountability for Israel over the killing of Abdallah.
CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg said that “in spite of extensive evidence of a war crime, a year on from the attack, Israel has faced zero accountability for the targeting of journalists.”
The journalists were working near the border village of Alma Al-Shaab in an area that has been the site of near-daily clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.
An AFP investigation in December pointed to a tank shell only used by the Israeli army being fired in the attack.
A separate Reuters probe, including initial findings from the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), found two Israeli tank rounds fired from the same position across the border were used.
TNO’s final report said an Israeli tank crew then “likely” opened fire on them with a machine gun.
An Israeli military spokesman said after the strike: “We are very sorry for the journalist’s death,” adding that Israel was “looking into” the incident, without taking responsibility.
 

 


Qatar and Saudi Arabia strengthen media cooperation with new framework agreement

Updated 14 October 2024
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Qatar and Saudi Arabia strengthen media cooperation with new framework agreement

  • Safeguarding supply chains ‘more crucial than ever,’ Saleh Al-Jasser says in opening remarks
  • Inaugural forum will feature 130 speakers and 80 exhibitors from 30 countries

DOHA: Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed on Sunday a framework agreement for cooperation and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of a meeting between Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Media in Doha.

The meeting between Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and Salman Al-Dossary, which was also attended by Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al-Thani and Saudi ambassador to Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan, focused on enhancing cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the media sector.

During their discussions, both sides emphasized the importance of deepening relations and expanding joint media initiatives.

The agreement was signed by Acting President of SPA, Ali Alzaid, and Director-General of QNA, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed on Sunday a framework agreement for cooperation and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and Qatar News Agency (QNA). (SPA)

It will aim to foster collaboration through a range of initiatives, including training programs in editing and photography, the promotion of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in news production, and the exchange of expertise, SPA reported.

The framework also seeks to strengthen ties by facilitating visits between the agencies and creating news and photographic content that highlights achievements, events, and national occasions in both countries, SPA added.