---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 21:44:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com> To: fight-censorship Subject: Philippine government moves to block incoming net-porn The attached note appears to have been sent to all ISPs in the Philippines. It asks them to report back on how they can "block entry of pornographic materials through the INTERNET." Note how it equates censoring porn with preventing sex tourism. General information about international net-censorship is at: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~declan/international/ http://www.eff.org/pub/Global/Singapore/ Thanks to David Sobel for forwarding this. -Declan =================================================== REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 865 VIBAL BLDG., EDSA CORNER TIMES ST., Q. C. 15 July 1996 M E M O R A N D U M TO: ALL REGISTERED VALUE ADDED SERVICES PROVIDERS RE: REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO BAR OR BLOCK ENTRY OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS THROUGH THE INTERNET The Special Committee for Children, constituted pursuant to E.O. 275 dated 14 September 1995, is tasked to ensure the special protection of children from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, discrimination and other conditions prejudicial to their development. Said Committee takes action on specific issues involving the implementation of the provisions of R. A. 7610 which covers several areas of concern, among others, child prostitution and other sexual abuse; child trafficking; obscene publications and indecent shows using children as performers or models; other acts of neglect, abuse, cruelty or exploitation and other conditions predjudicial to the child's development. The Committee has raised the concern on the INTERNET being used as a very convenient medium for advertising sex tourism in the Philippines, with particular focus on the alleged availability of Filipino children for sexual liaisons and entertainment. Some materials used in the network for the afformentioned puprose were given to this Commission. Secretary Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr., Department of Justice, requested this Commission to bar or block entry of pornographic materials through the INTERNET. In view of this, you are requested to give your comments/position and suggestions on this matter, particularly on the possibility of barring or blocking pornographic materials through the INTERNET, and submit the same to this Commission by 18 July 1996 attention to Director Edgardo V. Cabarios, CCAD at fax no. 921-7128. Your cooperation and prompt action on this matter is greatly appreciated. Signed Simeon J. Kintanar Commissioner