DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY LAW

2nd Semester, AY 2018-2019

Oliver Xavier A. Reyes

SYLLABUS

I. Sources of ICT Law (Lecture)

Supplemental Readings:

· Republic Act No. 10844 and IRR

· Tunis Agenda for the Information Society
· Internet Governance: An Internet Society Public Policy Briefing, Internet Society

II. State Regulation of ICT Services

A. Police Power

● PLDT v. NTC, G.R. No. 88404, 18 October 1990

● TBAP v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 132922, 21 April 1998
● Batangas CATV v. CA, G.R. No. 138810, 29 September 2004

B. Taxation

· South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., 201 L. Ed. 2d 403 (2018)

C. Constitution-based rationale: Public Utility Model (Sec. 11, Art. XII,

Constitution)

a. Franchising/Licensing

● Public Service Act (Com. Act No. 89, as amended)

● Executive Order No. 546 (1979)
● Sec. 16, Public Telecommunications Act (Rep. Act No. 7925)
● Iloilo Ice v. Public Utility Board, 44 Phil. 551 (1923)
● RCPI v. NTC, G.R. No. L-68729, 29 May 1987
● Associated Comms v. NTC, G.R. No. 144109, 17 February 2003
● Divinagracia v. CBS, G.R. No. 162272, 7 April 2009

b. Nationality Requirement

● Gamboa v. Teves, G.R. No. 176579, 28 June 2011 & 9 October 2012
● Roy III v. Herbosa, G.R. No. 207246, 22 November 2016

c. Regulation of Services of Public Utilities

● See, e.g., Republic Act No. 7925

● Republic v. ICC, G.R. No. 141667, 17 July 2006
● Globe v. NTC, G.R. No. 143964, 26 July 2004
● PT&T v. Smart, G.R. No. 189026, 9 November 2016
● Ang Tibay v. CIR, 69 Phil. 635 (1940)
D. Constitution-based rationale: Mass Media and Nationality (Sec. 11, Art.
XV, Constitution. See also Sec. 7, Art. XV, 1973 Constitution)

● Ridon v. AXN , G.R. Nos. 210885 & 210886, 26 August 2014

● In Re: Rappler, Inc., SP. Case No. 08-17-001, 11 January 2018
● SEC Opinion No. 17-07

E. Common Carrier Model

· NARUC v. FCC, 533 F.2d 601 (1976)

· USTA v. FCC, DC Cir., No. 15-1063, 14 June 2016
· See also Globe v. NTC, supra.

F. Anti-Trust/Unfair Competition

· Secs. 14-21, Philippine Competition Act (Rep. Act No. 10667)

· PLDT v. PCC, CA-G.R. SP No. 146528, 18 October 2017

G. Medium-based regulatory distinctions

1. Broadcast media

a. Scarcity doctrine
● Red Lion v. FCC, 395 U.S. 367 (1969)
● FCC v. League of Women Voters, 468 U.S. 364 (1984)
● Miami Herald v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974)
● Divinagracia v. CBS, supra

b. “Uniquely Pervasive Presence:

● FCC v. Pacifica, 438 U.S. 726 (1978)

● FCC v. Fox Television, 489 F. 3d 444 (2009)
● Eastern v. Dans, G.R. No. L-59329, 19 July 1985
● TBAP v. COMELEC, supra
● GMA v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 205357, 2 September 2014
● Soriano v. Laguardia, G.R. No. 164785, 29 April 2009

2. Cable television

● Los Angeles v. Preferred Communications, 476 U.S. 488 (1986)

● Quincy Cable TV v. FCC, 768 F. 2d 1434 (D.C. Cir. 1985)
● GMA Network v. Central CATV, G.R. No. 176694, 18 July 2014
● ABS-CBN v. PMSI, G.R. No. 175769-70, 19 January 2009

3. The Internet

● Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)

III. The Protection of Online Freedom of Expression

● Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

● Article 19, International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights
● Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection
of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue
(2011)
● Part 1, Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights
Council on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of
opinion and expression, David Kaye (2017)
● Submission dated 28 September 2016 to Special Rapporteur David
Kaye from the Philippine DICT Secretary

A. Content-based vs. Content-Neutral Regulations

● Osmena v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 132231, 31 March 1998

● Chavez v. Gonzales, G.R. No. 168338, 15 February 2008
● Newsounds v. Hon. Dy, G.R. No. 170270, 2 April 2009

2. The Clear and Present Danger Test

● Chavez v. Gonzales, G.R. No. 168338, 15 February 2008

B. Obscenity/Indecency and Media

● FCC v. Pacifica, 438 U.S. 726 (1978)

● Soriano v. Laguardia, G.R. No. 164785, 29 April 2009

C. Internet-Specific Rationales for Regulation of Expression

● Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)

● Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002)
● Ashcroft v. ACLU, 535 U.S. 564 (2002)
● Disini v. Secretary of Justice, G.R. No. 203335, 11
February 2014

D. Encrypted and Anonymized Speech

● Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and

protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression,
David Kaye (2016)
● A. Hern, The dilemma of the dark web: protecting neo-
Nazis and dissidents alike, The Guardian (2017)
● Articles 177 & 178, Revised Penal Code
● Junger v. Daley, 209 F.3d 481 (6th Cir. 2000)

E. Remedies for Infringement

1. Facial Challenge/Overbreadth

● Southern Hemisphere Engagement Network v. Anti-

Terrorism Council, G.R. No. 178552, 5October 2010
● Disini v. Secretary of Justice, G.R. No. 203335, 11
February 2014
IV. The Protection of the Right to Privacy

● Report of the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner on Human Rights, The Right to Privacy in the
Digital Age (2014)

A. Privacy as a Constitutional Right

● Section 3(1), Article III, Constitution

● Article 32(9) and (11), Civil Code
● Olmstead v. US, 277 U.S. 438 (1928) , J. Brandeis
(dissenting)
● Griswold v. Connectictut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965)
● Morfe v. Mutuc, GR No. L-20387, 31 January 1968
● Ople v. Torres, G.R. No. 127685, 23 July 1998
● Zulueta v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 107383, 20 February
1996
● Republic v. Eugenio, G.R. No. 174629, 14 February 2008

2. Privacy as a Statutory Right in the Philippines

● Article 26, Civil Code

● Republic Act No. 10173 (Data Privacy Act)
● Republic Act No. 9995 (Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism
Act)

3. Informational Privacy vs. Decisional Privacy

● Whalen v. Roe, 429 U.S. 589 (1977)

● Disini v. Secretary of Justice, G.R. No. 203335, 11 February
2014

4. Reasonable Expectation of Privacy on ICT Channels

● Gaanan v. IAC, G.R. No. L-69809, 16 October 1986

● R. v. Marakah, 2017 SCC 59 (Canada)
● D v. U.S., Case No. 16–402, 18 June 2018
● Pollo v. David, G.R. No. 181881, 18 October 2011
● Vivares v. STC, G.R. No. 202666, 29 September 2014

5. Permissible Restrictions on Right to Privacy

● Article 19(3), International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights
● Gamboa v. Chan, G.R. No. 193636, 24 July 2012

6. Local Remedies in Case of Breach

● A.M. No. 08-1-16-SC (Rule on the Writ of Habeas Data)

● Section 9, Rule III and Rule XII, Implementing Rules to
Republic Act 10173
● Article 26, Civil Code
● Article 32(9) and (11), Civil Code
 7. The “Right to Be Forgotten”

● Section 16(e), Data Privacy Act

● Rule VIII, Section 34(e) & (f), Implementing Rules to Data
Privacy Act
● Google Spain v. AEPD, Case C-131/12 (May 13, 2014)
● Plaintiff X v. Newspaper X, 7 U 29/12
● A.T. v. Globe24h.com, 2017 FC 114
● Plaintiff X v. Google, 2016 (Kyo) 45
● NT 1 & NT 2 v Google LLC [2018] EWHC 799 (QB) (13
April 2018)

8. State Surveillance and Collection

● A.M. No. No. 17-11-03-SC (Rule on Cybercrime Warrant)

● A.M. No. 08-1-16-SC (Rule on the Writ of Habeas Data)
● Sections 7-16, Republic Act No. 9372 (Human Security Act)
● Jewel v. NSA, 673 F. 3d 902 (2011)
● Klayman v. Obama, Civil Action No. 13-851 (RJL)
● SSHD v. Watson, [2018] EWCA Civ 70
● Surveillance Self-Defense, Electronic Frontier Foundation

III. Cybercrimes

● Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2001)

● Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of
2012)
● Disini v. Secretary of Justice, G.R. No. 203335, 11 February
2014

1. Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and

availability of computer data and systems.
● Illegal Access
● Illegal Interception
● Data Interference
● System Interference
● Misuse of Devices
● Republic Act No. 8484 (Access Devices
Regulation Act of 1998)
- Laurel v. Abrogar, G.R. No. 155076, 27
February 2006 (Decision), and 13
January 2009 (Resolution)
- Cruz v. People, G.R. No. 210266, 7 June
2017
- Soledad v. People, G.R. No. 184274, 23
February 2011

2. Computer-related offences
● Computer-related forgery
● Computer-related fraud
 3. Content-related offenses
● Child pornography (See also Republic Act No.
9775)
● Cybersex
● Cyber-libel
● Trafficking in Persons (See also Republic Act
No. 9208, as amended by Republic Act No.
10364)
● People v. XXX & YYY, G.R. No. 235652, 9 July
2018
● Nogales v. People, G.R. No. 191080, 21
November 2011

4. Cyberstalking and other acts of violence against

women/children
● Sections 3(a)(C), 3(d) and5(h)(1), Republic Act
No. 9262
● Ang v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 182835, 20
April 2010
● OCA v. Judge Yu, A.M. No. MTJ-12-1813, 22
November 2016
● Chapter 9, Part 7, Protection of Freedoms Act
2012 (UK)

5. 2019 Rule on Cybercrime Warrants (A.M. 17-11-03-

SC)

● Preservation of computer data (Sec. 3)

● Disclosure of computer data (Sec. 4)
● Interception of content data (Sec. 5)
● Search, seizure and examination of computer
data (Sec. 6)

6. Restriction or blocking access to computer data on

account of cybercrime.

IV. Issues on Intellectual Property Rights

● Republic Act No. 8293 (Intellectual Property

Code), as amended by Republic Act No. 10372.
● Registration of Internet Domain Names (IDN) as
Service Marks, Memorandum Circular BT Y2k-
9-05, Bureau of Trademarks, Intellectual
Property Office
● Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation
Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 512

A. Copyright Infringement
● ABS-CBN v. Gozon, G.R. No. 195956, 11 March
2015
● Universal City v. Corley, 273 F. 3d 429 (2001)
● Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003)
 ● Golan v. Holder, 565 U.S. 302 (2012)
● New York Times v. Tasini, 533 U.S. 483 (2001)

B. Patent and software

· Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank, 573 U.S. 208 (2014)

C. Contributory Infringement

● Sony Corp. v. Universal City, 464 U.S. 417 (1984)

● MGM v. Grokster, 545 U.S. 913 (2005)

V. Intermediary Liability

● Parts 3 & 4, Report of the Special Rapporteur of the

Human Rights Council on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression, David Kaye (2017)
● Fostering Freedom Online: The Role of Internet
Intermediaries (2014)
● Delfi v. Estonia, No. 64569/09, ECHR 2015
● Pihl v. Sweden, No. 74742/14, ECHR 2017
● BMG v. Cox Communications, No. 16-1972 (4th
Cir. 2018)
● L’Oreal SA v eBay, ECLI:EU:C:2011:474
● Articles 26 & 32, Civil Code

VI. Digital Transformation of Government Services

A. Access to Information

· Article III, Section 7, Constitution

· Report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Opinion and Expression. (2013)
· Executive Order No. 02 (2016)
o Inventory of Exceptions to Executive Order
No. 02 (24 November 2016)
· Legaspi v. Civil Service Commissioner, G.R. No.
72119, 29 May 1987
· Garcillano v. House, G.R. No. 170338, 23 December
2008
· Re: Petition for Radio & TV Coverage, A.M. No. 10-
11-5-SC, Resolution dated 13 January 2015
· Knight First Amendment v. Trump, No. 1:17-cv-
05205 (S.D.N.Y.)

B. Online Filings and Registries

· Section 8, 2016 IRR to Government Procurement

Reform Act (GPRA)
 · Republic Act No. 11032 (Ease of Doing Business
and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of
2018)
· Implementing Guidelines on Electronic
Registration of Land Titles and Deeds (2009)
· Republic Act No. 11057 (Personal Property Security
Act of 2018)
· Republic Act No. 11234 (Energy Virtual One-Stop
Shop Act)
· Guidelines on Submission and Processing of Soft
Copies of Supreme Court-bound Papers Pursuant
to the Efficient Use of Paper Rule (A.M No. 10-3-7-
SC, 10 September 2013)
· Republic Act No. 11055 (Philippine Identification
System Act)

C. Distributed Ledger Technology

VII. Electronic Commercial Transactions and Financial

Technologies

A. Electronic Commercial Documents and Signatures

● Republic Act No. 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act of 2000)

● · Department of Trade and Industry & Department of Science and
Technology Joint Department Administrative Order No. 02 (2001)
● · United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic
Communications in International Contracts
● · Executive Order No. 810 (2009)
● · DTI Administrative Order No. 10-09 (2010)
● · DTI Administrative Order No. 11-01 (2011)
● · MCC Industrial Sales Corporation v. Ssangyong Corporation, G.R.
No. 170633, 17 October 2007
● · A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC, Rules on Electronic Evidence (2001)

B. Electronic Banking and Online Payments

· Republic Act No. 11127 (National Payment Systems Act)

· BSP Circular No. 269 (2000)
· BSP Circular No. 980 (Adoption of National Retail Payment
System Framework, 2017)
· BSP Circular No. 942 (Rules governing Money Service Business
Operations, 2017)

C. Electronic Monies
· BSP Circular No. 942 (Guidelines on Electronic
Money and Electronic Money Issuers, 2009)

D. Virtual Currencies
· BSP Circular No. 944 (Guidelines for Virtual
Currency Exchanges)
· SEC Draft Rules on Initial Coin Offerings
· Republic Act No. 109621 (Gift Checks Law)
 VIII. ICT Issues in Remedial Law

A. Actions against Foreign Entities

· Section 12, Rule 14, Rules of Court (as amended by

A.M. No. 11-3-6-SC.
· Hasegawa v. Kitamura, G.R. No. 149177, 23
November 2007
· Calder v. Jones, 465 U.S. 783 (1984)
· Yahoo v. La Ligue Contre Le Racisme, 433 F.3d 1199
(2006)
· Google v. CNIL, (Preliminary Opinion) No. 507/17,
10 January 2019

B. A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC, Rules on Electronic Evidence (2001)

· National Power Corporation v. Hon. Codilla, G.R. No.

170491, 4 April 2007
· MCC Industrial Sales Corporation v. Ssangyong
Corporation, G.R. No. 170633, 17 October 2007
· People v. Enojas, G.R. No. 204894, 10 March 2014
· Aznar v. Citibank, G.R. No. 164273, 28 March 2007
· Chato v. HRET, G.R. No. 199149, 22 January 2013