Tech in 2024: How’s the Philippines doing?

It’s been a whirlwind year for the Philippine tech industry.

With the many different movements in the world’s technology sector, the Philippines has had to try and play catch-up in a number of different sectors.

From freedom on the Internet and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence and job security, it’s an uphill battle for the Philippines as it grows with the times.

Here’s a roundup of Philippine tech happenings from 2024.

The Philippines is ‘Partly Free’ on the Internet

Freedom House, a political advocacy nonprofit centered on issues of democracy, political freedom, and human rights, rated the Philippines ‘Partly Free’ on its 2024 Freedom on the Net Index, with a score of 60/100 — a further decline from last year’s 61, and 2022’s 65 score. The closer to 100, the more free.  

From the period June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024, Freedom House noted instances of Internet freedom declining during this period. These included cyberattacks against online news groups and instances of red-tagging, or targeting accused people or groups of being affiliated or having links with local communist groups.

Adding to this, 2024’s World Press Freedom Index, as indexed by Reporters Without Borders saw the Philippines ranked two places lower this year — and is now 134th out of 180.

UN calls the Philippines a ‘trouble spot’ for online child abuse

The United Nations, in a profile of Cheng Veniles, who works with law enforcement, prosecution and court officers as part of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s initiatives on online child protection, called the Philippines “one of many trouble spots for online child abuse on the internet, a phenomenon which has grown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The issue, while of local concern, is also globally-powered with the Internet fostering a market for online chil