Alternative media outfits identify cyber-attackers, file complaints
By RAYMUND B. VILLANUEVA
Kodao Productions
Alternative media outfits identified two companies behind the intense cyber attacks against them since December.
Bulatlat, Kodao, and Pinoy Weekly, as well as the People’s Alternative Media Network (Altermidya) filed a civil complaint at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court this morning against IP Converge Data Services, Inc. and Suniway Group of Companies they believe are behind the cyber-attacks.
“Through the solid digital forensic investigation of Sweden-based Qurium Media Foundation, we were able to unmask companies IP Converge and Suniway as those behind the cyber-attacks,” Altermidya national coordinator Rhea Padilla said.
According to their respective websites, IP Converge Data Services, Inc. is the country’s first cloud services provider while Suniway is an internet services provider.
Exposed IP addresses
Padilla said the digital forensic report revealed that despite hiding behind a Virtual Private Network (VPN), one of the attackers exposed their real IP addresses when they accessed the website without turning on their hidden IPs.
In another instance, one of the attackers also revealed his IP address when he used his Samsung Android phone to check the websites of alternative media groups under attack.
The exposed IP addresses, she added, may easily be traced to IP Converge.
Meanwhile, Qurium learned that the infrastructure of networks being used to launch the attacks belongs to Suniway, which holds business addresses both in Hong Kong and in the Philippines with two Chinese national listed as among its officers.
“The user agents who conducted the attacks using devices within the premises and under the control and supervision of Defendants IP Converge and Suniway are unidentified at this point,” their complaint said.
First-ever complaint
Padilla said their civil complaint against cyber-attackers is the first ever in the Philippines.
“This is definitely a first and it will serve as a testament that we will neither be cowed nor will we allow these cyber-attacks to continue,” Padilla said.
The complainants are assisted by by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.
They are asking for a symbolic one peso each in civil damages.
Since December 2018, alternative media sites have been subjected to sustained cyber-attacks in the form of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
DDoS refers to the malicious attempt to overload the server of a website, aimed to shut it down.
Padilla said this kind of attack “denies legitimate readers of access to truthful reports.”
“Plaintiffs have reasonable ground to believe that there are more than one of them, each one targeting a particular organization,” their complaint said.
Padilla added that launching a cyber-attack with this kind of magnitude and immensity is impossible without the knowledge of the companies.
“They had the gall to continue the attacks despite the fact that it has been widely reported in the dominant media,” she added.
The alternative media outfits maintained that these relentless cyber-attacks are politically-motivated.
They called on the two companies to reveal their real clients.
“We believe this is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s attempt to stifle press freedom in the country. Cyber censorship is one of Duterte administration’s tactics to make way for his open dictatorial rule,” Padilla said.
The filing of the complaint coincided with the 25th anniversary of the internet in the Philippines.
In March 29, 1994, the first ever internet message were sent between the University of San Carlos in Cebu City and Syracuse University in New York. (Kodao.org)
The post Alternative media outfits identify cyber-attackers, file complaints appeared first on Bulatlat.
Karapatan on the rearrest of Rappler’s Maria Ressa
Karapatan is one with journalists and media workers in decrying the vivid violations on the people’s right to information and freedom of expression, as exemplified by the cyber-attacks against websites of alternative media organizations and the rearrest of Rappler’s Maria Ressa on politically-motivated charges.
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Youth groups call for independent senate
By SHEERAH ESCUDERO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Various youth organizations formed and launched “Laban Kabataan, Tayo Na”, a youth broad coalition calling to push for an independent senate and stand against dictatorship, with a 14-point pro-poor and pro-people Youth Agenda, for a free, democratic, and progressive future, March 27, in Quezon City.
“The youth should take part in the politics. We should not just settle and impose our criticisms through social media, it is not enough in this kind of political status, where there is a dictator. The youth must stand together and encourage other youth organizations to join the plight of the people.”, said Jeremiah Tomas of Liberal Youth.
Among the youth groups who joined the initiative are: Kabataan Partylist, Youth Act Now Against Tyranny (YANAT), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Kalipunan ng mga Kabataang Kristiyano sa Pilipinas (KKKP), Aksyon Kabataan, National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocate (NNARA) – Youth, Millenials PH, Liberal Youth, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) and Spark.
During the gathering, they stood in solidarity as they aim to take collective action to change the course of country’s future, especially with the upcoming elections.
“Those candidates who will have a seat on the senate, hopefully would be the voice of the people and will go against the anti-people and anti-youth policies.”, said Raoul Manual of YANAT, ephasizing the aim of the youth coalition.
14-point Program
During the launch of “Laban Kabataan, Tayo Na,” various youth groups presented their 14-point Youth Agenda. These are:
1. Free Education
2. Decent Jobs for the Youth and the People
3. Genuine Agrarian Reform
4. Just and Lasting Peace
5. Improvement of All Social Services
6. Climate and Environmental Justice
7. Good Governance
8. Upholding National and Economic Sovereignty
9. Uphold Human Rights 10. End Gender-Based Discrimination and Violence
11. Protection of Press Freedom
12. Protection of Ancestral Lands and Right to Self-Determination of National Minorities
13. Repeal TRAIN Law
14. No To Charter Change
In a statement, Laban Kabataan, Tayo said that senatorial aspirants are called on to heed the youth’s 14-point agenda, which they said are “compendium of calls and demands instrumental to the holistic advancement of the youth’s welfare and the nation as a whole.”
Kenji Muramatsu of SCMP added that they will hold to account the senators on their electoral promises even after the election.
“In the spirit of collective action, we call for unity amongst the youth and candidates to create a free, democratic, and progressive society to build the foundations for a braver and bolder Philippines.”, said Laban Kabataan, Tayo Na.
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