Philippine News Outlet Rappler Faces Closure
TimeMAR 23 2022
Ressa and her news organization present themselves as independent watchdogs out to enforce the rule of law. But Rappler violated the Philippine Constitution and its statutes and then offered flimsy excuses after the fact to try and cover up their misdeeds. They engaged in secretive deals with other US entities.
The Philippines is the canary in the coalmine: the shutdown of Rappler and the repression of Ressa and independent new media voices are part of a growing global trend of "digital authoritarianism." The end game for aspiring authoritarians is to clamp down on facts, truth, and ultimately, trust. Civil society, NGOs, and independent media must work together to hold governments to account.