By Bea Rollo
(April 7, 2025) – Some youth activists in the Philippines are withdrawing from advocacy work due to persistent online harassment and red-tagging, a human rights group said.
According to a report of Amnesty International released on Friday, as cited by Philstar.com, digital attacks linked to state actors have pushed youth activists to retreat from public engagement. It added that many have faced threats beyond social media, leading to fear for their physical safety and mental health.
“The chilling effect of online harassment severely impairs the rights of these young human rights defenders. It not only threatens the individual but also undermines their capacity to do their work to defend human rights,” said Mia Tonogbanua, the vice chairperson of Amnesty International Philippines, as quoted by Philstar.com.
They noted that some have received threats from military-affiliated accounts, while others described struggling with anxiety and self-censorship.
A student shared that being red-tagged on a government-linked page on Facebook caused “weeks of sleepless nights,” adding that she was “constantly afraid” for her security.
In 2024, Amnesty International reported that Facebook remained the most popular social media platform in the Philippines with 95% of users accessing it monthly, making it a “key focus” for red-tagging and online harassment.
Amnesty International found that Meta, which owns Facebook, repeatedly failed to enforce its community guidelines, including removing red-tagging content.
The human rights organization called for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which is notorious for red-tagging, and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr., however, recently maintained that he would not dissolve the NTF-ELCAC, claiming it has been effective against “terroristic activities.”
Last year, in a historic ruling, the Supreme Court declared that red-tagging threatens a person’s right to life, liberty, and security.
(PM)
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