Court Summons Tech Firms Over Cyber-attacks

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court served a summons on 11 April 2019 to two tech firms facing a civil complaint filed by alternative media groups critical of the Duterte regime over cyber-attacks against their websites.

Alternative media organizations Bulatlat, Kodao Productions and Pinoy Weekly as well as alternative media network Altermidya filed a civil complaint on March 29 against the IP Converge and Suniway Group of Companies after a digital forensic investigation by Swedish nonprofit Qurium Media Foundation found that the cyber-attacks were carried out through their infrastructures. Qurium provides rapid response services and has helped the alternative media groups monitor the attacks.

Bulatlat reported that “the alternative media outfits under attack identified three causes of action for the two tech companies’ (1) clear abuse of right, (2) the losses and injuries sustained by the plaintiffs, and (3) for the violation of their freedom to maintain publications. For each cause of action, the alternative news agencies under attack prayed for a P4.00 damages, exclusive of actual damages that the cyber-attacks have caused.”

The tech companies are required to reply within 15 days to the civil charges filed by the alternative media group, according to Josalee Deinla, National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) spokesperson.

See related alerts:

            “Alternative Media Groups File Raps vs Cyber-Attackers”

            “Cyber-attacks Hit Bulatlat Anew”

            “Alternative News Sites Down in Cyber-Attack”