Manila – At least 10 government websites were defaced in the Philippines on June 12th, the Philippines ‘Araw ng Kalayaan:", by a group calling itself ‘Private X,’ which is protesting Philippine cyber security laws pending in congress and provisions that they say in a hijack and defacement vandalism campaign on government websites.
Todays protest Is part of a growing local vocal movement versus the alleged porential for abuse of personal freedom in new legislation designed to go after cyber criminals in the Philippines.
Something the group says they are working strongly to help keep cyberspace safe and agree with government on the need to keep criminals out of cyberspace. But stress, the need also for protection for voices of protest.
The groups statement posted on Hijacked home pages, some of which were defaced says they did not install software, take files, or damage coding on the websites which belong to Philippine government agencies.
But only seek to call attention to the concerns over personal freedom of expresion that they see as a potential source of abuse. Among the websites hacked were the Philippines Nuclear research institute, Office of the Vice President of the Philippines and other government agencies.
Philippine Government Television Network PTV reported on its website that the sites were being repaired and attended to by the government agencies concerns. Most seem to undamaged except for the defacement and vandalism to the sites home pages,
More on the story at www.PTV.ph