Foundation for Media Alternatives

Foundation for Media Alternatives
Name	Foundation for Media Alternatives
Formed	1987
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Philippines
Location	Metro Manila
Fields	Information and communication technologies, human rights, media literacy

Foundation for Media Alternatives is a Philippine-based nonprofit organization focused on information and communication technologies, digital rights, and participatory media. Founded in 1987, the organization engages with civil society, academic institutions, and policy makers to influence debates on access to information, privacy, and freedom of expression. Through research, training, and coalition-building, it works alongside regional and international networks to shape technology-related public policy and community media practices.

History

The organization emerged in the late 1980s amid post-Marcos political transitions involving actors such as Corazon Aquino, People Power Revolution, Bayan, Ateneo de Manila University, and civil society coalitions. Early collaborations connected it with National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Philippine Press Institute, and grassroots media groups. In the 1990s it linked with international initiatives like UNESCO programs, Association for Progressive Communications, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and regional networks including Southeast Asian Press Alliance and Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre. The 2000s saw engagement with policy debates around the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Philippines), Freedom of Information executive order, and collaborations with actors such as Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and donor institutions like Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Mission and Activities

The stated mission aligns with advocacy for digital inclusion and rights protection alongside partnerships with groups such as Asia Pacific Network, African Network Information Center, Internet Society, Mozilla Foundation, and Philippine civil society like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusan sa Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran, and media collectives. Activities include capacity building with community groups like Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, Tanggol Kalikasan, and faith-based organizations including Caritas Philippines and Ecumenical Bishops' Forum. The organization publishes research and toolkits drawing on methodologies from World Bank studies, International Telecommunication Union reports, and academic work at De La Salle University and University of the Philippines Diliman.

Programs and Projects

Programs have spanned community technology centers, community journalism, digital security training, and public interest ICT policy. Notable project areas include community broadband pilot initiatives inspired by models from Community Networks Consortium, participatory mapping projects akin to OpenStreetMap collaborations, and digital literacy curricula referencing Commonwealth of Learning resources. Projects have worked with youth networks such as Kabataang Makabayan, student organizations at University of Santo Tomas, and women's groups like Gabriela and Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau. International project linkages include partnerships with Global Voices, Creative Commons, Access Now, and multilateral programs by United Nations Development Programme.

Advocacy and Policy Work

Advocacy efforts target legislation, administrative orders, and international instruments, engaging with bodies such as the Senate of the Philippines, House of Representatives of the Philippines, National Privacy Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology (Philippines), and regional forums like ASEAN and APEC. The group contributed to consultations on the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Philippines), criticized provisions in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and participated in discussions around Freedom Online Coalition commitments. It has filed position papers alongside Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture, and other NGOs during legislative deliberations and international treaty processes including Universal Declaration of Human Rights related technology debates.

Partnerships and Funding

The organization has partnered with international donors, academic partners, and advocacy networks including Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, MacArthur Foundation, European Union, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and UN agencies like UNICEF and UNESCO. Collaborations extend to universities such as Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and think tanks like Philippine Institute for Development Studies and Akbayan. It also coordinates with global digital rights groups including Electronic Frontier Foundation, Access Now, Internet Society, and regional bodies such as Southeast Asian Press Alliance and Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.

Impact and Criticism

Impact claims include contributions to public consultations, capacity-building outcomes among community media practitioners, and influence on privacy and cyber legislation alongside organizations like Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, and Ateneo Human Rights Center. Critics and commentators from institutions such as Philippine Congress committees, conservative media outlets, and some think tanks have challenged its positions on matters like online libel, content regulation, and donor-driven agenda setting. Debates have referenced comparative cases involving United States v. Microsoft Corporation, European General Data Protection Regulation, and ASEAN digital policy harmonization discussions. Ongoing scrutiny focuses on transparency, funding sources, and policy stances in forums such as APEC Digital Economy Steering Group and ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the Philippines