NEWS
Globe intensifies drive against piracy
April 1, 2022 9:21 p.m.
GLOBE has further intensified its drive against illegal streaming and downloading of content as the Philippines, together with Vietnam and Malaysia, again topped the list of Asian countries with the highest piracy rates.
Piracy has been a lingering problem around the world, posing a danger to the viability of businesses and the livelihood of content creators, and also exposing users to malware and other online threats.
“The ill-effects of online piracy cannot be underestimated. Globe continues to ramp up initiatives to mitigate, if not fully stop piracy, and make a positive societal impact. We also work with coalitions and partners like the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) and the IPOPHL to help address these challenges,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer.
The recent YouGov 2022 Piracy Landscape Survey commissioned by AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) revealed that 61% of local respondents have consumed pirated content. Their primary sources are social media and messaging platforms at 44 percent.
Movie snippets are usually shown on Facebook and TikTok, while pirated content is sold in the Facebook marketplace. People also share illegally downloaded materials via messaging apps such as Telegram.
Other sources of pirated content include streaming and torrent sites at 20% and illicit streaming devices and apps, also at 20%.While piracy continues to be a major concern in the country, there remains a high consumption of legal content. The survey showed that 81% of respondents said they consume content through legitimate platforms, although the figure is still the lowest in the region.
AVIA is now looking at commissioning YouGov to conduct the survey at the end of every year to help identify where, how, and why consumers are accessing illegal content and the impact of enforcement actions. It is also talking with social media platforms to discuss the possibility of taking down pirated content.
“The Philippines not only has one of the highest piracy consumption rates in the Asia Pacific region, but the lowest consumption rate of legitimate content from those countries surveyed.
However, there is hope. The Philippines also has the highest percentage of consumers who would use legitimate content if their access to pirate services was blocked, and the highest percentage of consumers in the region in countries that do not currently block pirate sites who believe that blocking pirate sites is the best measure to reduce piracy,” said CAP General Manager Matthew Cheetham.
“With these factors in mind, we encourage the Philippine government to urgently amend the current copyright legislation to allow for an efficient and effective regulatory site blocking regime,” he said.
On the other hand, Globe educates its customers on how to become responsible and intelligent custodians of content since the launch of the #PlayItRight campaign in 2017. The initiative cuts across several industries such as film, music, gaming, digital literacy, and education.
Aside from blocking confirmed illegal piracy sites, the campaign makes consumers aware that piracy websites can be hotbeds for illegal online activities, malware, and other cybersecurity threats.
Through its Digital Thumbprint Program, Globe has maximized its influence within the education and entertainment sectors. The advocacy has been integrated into the K-12 curriculum of the Department of Education in 2019.
Globe supports efforts to modernize the country’s intellectual property law, with several bills pending in Congress that aim to boost protection of intellectual property rights. Among the amendments sought is granting greater power to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to take down or block online sites violating copyright laws and penalize violators with steeper fines.
In line with its campaign for a safer Internet, Globe also hopes to see the enactment of the bill amending the law which penalizes online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, which Congress is expected to ratify within the year. The measure aims to expand child protection against cyber threats and address gaps in existing laws such as the Anti-Child Pornography Act, the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discriminaton Act, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Globe supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. It is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.
NEWS
Atayde bats for moratorium on student loan payments during emergencies, calamities
March 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.
STUDENTS won’t have to worry paying their loans during times of calamities and emergencies, as Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has introduced a moratorium on the payment of student loans administered by higher educational institutions (HEIs).
The House Bill 7279, which Atayde filed last Feb. 21, headed into its first reading six days later in the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go.
He said the bill — once it turns to a law — will halt the payment of all the fees, charges, and costs relating to student loans and technical-vocational training institutions (TVIs) or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) during emergencies.
It will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency — those who are enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private HEIs, and public and private TVIs.
“We have to find a way to help our students and their families, when natural or even these man-made calamities hit them hard. We just have to make everything easy for them including a moratorium on the payment of student loans,” Atayde said. “It is a burden on a student and their family especially in difficult times like aftermath of typhoon, fire and earthquakes, among other disasters.”
“In the order of spending, student loans will be their least priority since spending will go mostly to basic necessities for survival,” Atayde added.
The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and for 30 days after its lifting. No penalties shall be collected on the deferred payments.
“To provide adequate relief and protection to our students in times of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of disasters.”
The Quezon City lawmaker cited also the availability of the moratorium, which shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.
“The proposed legislation doesn’t prevent public and private HEIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or assistance to students affected by disasters, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing subsidies and assistance from the government,” Atayde concluded.
NEWS
ShopeePay now available as a payment method for App Store, other Apple services in PH
March 16, 2023 1:59 p.m.
Beginning today, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, is now available as a payment method for Apple services in the Philippines. Customers can use their ShopeePay account to pay for App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store purchases, iCloud storage and more.
The addition of ShopeePay as an Apple ID payment method offers a new way to pay for Apple services without needing a credit card and still allows for easy, secure one-tap purchasing from Apple products including iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Customers can manage their Apple ID payment information in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or on their Mac or PC.
Agatha Soh, Director at ShopeePay commented, “ShopeePay is committed to meeting the needs of users who are increasingly expecting seamless payments across all platforms. We are excited to offer ShopeePay as a convenient payment option for our customers, and expand access to digital payments, benefitting more users.”
For more information on how to add ShopeePay as a payment method, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266 or https://shopee.ph/m/ShopeePay-Apple-ID-PH.
NEWS
Be bolder, braver, more confident at SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month celebration!
March 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.
Ladies, take center stage as SM celebrates Women Power throughout the month of March. Lots of activities both online and on-ground are in store to empower women and girls all over the country.
Join the Future of Women Global Summit
SM Supermalls will be joining UN Women in kicking off the IWD 2023 celebration through a women’s summit on March 8, at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. Focusing on the future of women in ICT, the two-part event will gather young women, country leaders, policy makers, and advocates together to share perspectives and affirm their commitment to supporting digital equality for women and girls.
Photo courtesy of SM City Lucena
Photo courtesy of SM City San Jose del Monte
Support your local Womenpreneurs
Great finds for ladies are on sale at the SM Womenpreneur Market! This pop-up of small and medium businesses owned by women for women will give you everything you need from food and beauty to wellness and fashion!
Wednesdays are for women!
Shopping on Wednesdays has become even more tempting because the Women’s Wednesday Sale is back! Achieve the glow-up you deserve with special discounts, deals, and promos on fashion, beauty, and fitness exclusively for women every Wednesday of March. So don’t hold back on your shopping; you deserve all these and more!
A beautiful treat of wellness all for you
Forda glow-up and pampering sesh tayo this month because lots of self-care deals are available at the Women’s Wellness Sale. Avail of great deals from wellness salons on facials, hair and body treatments, nail care, and massage from March 1 to March 31.
And more deals online!
Special deals are up for women via the SM Malls Online app. Get the best brand offerings every Wednesday from shoes and beauty and wellness to home and hobbies. Use the code WOMEN and get an extra 10% off, capped at 250. What’s great is that there’s no minimum purchase required!
Also, a collection of brand vouchers will be sent to all women SM Malls Online shoppers valid all month. Wait for your Beauty Pass and give yourself the retail therapy you deserve with tons of discounts, GWP deals, samplers, in-store pick up bonuses, and mystery boxes!
Plus, the SM Malls Online app will be hosting self-care sessions online. Follow SM Supermalls on social media to get a dose of starter packages, Get-Ready-With-Me routines, and beauty products that your favorite beauty experts swear by.
Photo courtesy of SM City East Ortigas
Photo courtesy of SM City Manila
Celebrate Women Power on IG!
Capture the beauty and power of women at the beautiful spots and installations all over SM. Be free to express your own uniqueness and creativity in the specially-designed selfie spaces in partnership with Selfie Studio. Don’t forget to tag us on IG!
We don’t know about you but exciting days await every SM woman. So be bolder, braver, and more confident! With these activities, you can confidently step forward in fashion, beauty, wellness, and express yourselves to make a positive impact.
Stay updated on all things women this IWD 2023 by visiting www.smsupermalls.com and following @smsupermalls on social media.
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