Disinformation and polarization, amplified by social media and inauthentic online activity during the 2025 election season, are reshaping the information landscape and eroding trust in credible journalism.

RSF warns the global trend is the criminalization of journalism, with legal pressure as a central tool to curb press freedom, urging governments and citizens to uphold protections for journalism.

Political pressure lingers from the Duterte era, with ongoing red-tagging and charges against journalists tied to alleged terrorist activities during the Marcos Jr. administration.

The case of Frenchie Mae Cumpio is highlighted as an example of how legal mechanisms are used to target critical reporting, even amid debates over evidence.

The global press freedom environment has deteriorated to its lowest level in 25 years, driven by national security laws and measures that restrict information access and criminalize media work.

RSF points to a regional pattern of using laws to control information, citing India, Myanmar, China, and North Korea, and calls for stronger protections, accountability, and sanctions in democracies.

Journalists face ongoing safety risks, highlighted by the killing of RJ Nichole Ledesma in the 2024–2025 period, as impunity and weak protections persist, especially for regional reporters and women journalists.

The Philippines sits 114th on RSF’s 2026 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting broader regional trends in Asia.

Criminal defamation penalties up to six years, harsher online libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and terrorism-related charges against journalists illustrate the tightening legal environment in the Philippines.

Economic pressures include rising media ownership concentration, closer ties between media and political actors, and financial strain on independent and regional outlets.