The International Fact-Checking Network’s statement on the Philippine government’s decision to shut down Rappler

It is disappointing to see that the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed its earlier decision to revoke the certificates of incorporation of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation, effectively prohibiting Rappler from operating in the country. It is outrageous and disgraceful that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, in the final days of his presidency, would attack press freedom in such a flagrant way by attempting to shut down one of the largest publications in the Philippines.

Rappler has a storied history of showcasing corruption and wrongdoing on the part of powerful people in the Philippines. Through this lens, the legal action against Rappler can and should be viewed as retaliation.

The International Fact-Checking Network is dedicated to supporting press freedom and fact-checkers globally, including our signatories. Rappler deserves to continue publishing hard-hitting investigative journalism and fact checks that hold power and the government accountable without threat of reprisal.

The precedent set by revoking Rappler’s ability to operate in the Philippines is alarming to fact-checkers and journalists worldwide who work every day to bring truth to the public, in democracies and repressive governments alike. We support Rappler wholeheartedly in its fight for continued survival and in its upcoming appeal and legal battle against these draconian attacks on the press.

Signatories

Animal Político (Mexico) / Aos Fatos (Brazil), Faktoje (Albania) / Källkritikbyrån (Sweden) / Myth Detector (Georgia) / Lead Stories (United States) / NewsMobile (India, Asia Pacific, US, Europe) / Mala Espina Check (Chile) / Istinomjer / Raskrinkavanje (Bosnia and Herzegovina) / ColombiaCheck  (Colombia) / FactCheck.org (United States) / Pagella Politica/Facta.news (Italy) / Fakenews.pl (Poland) / Mafindo (Indonesia) / FactCheckHub (Nigeria) / Lupa (Brazil) / Mongolian Fact-Checking Center (Mongolia) / MyGoPen (Taiwan) / FactWatch (Bangladesh) / VERA Files (Philippines) / FactCrescendo (India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia) / Rumor Scanner (Bangladesh) / First Check (India) / Stopfals.md (Moldova) / Verificat (Catalonia, Spain) / Factly (India) / FactCheck Georgia (Georgia) / Ellinika Hoaxes (Greece) / Doğruluk Payı (Turkey) / StopFake.org (Ukraine) / Delfi Lie Detector (Lithuania) / Newschecker (India, Bangladesh, Nepal) / Factcheck Lab (Hong Kong) / Tempo.co (Indonesia) / Istinomer (Serbia) / Knack Magazine (Belgium), ADS/hibrid.info (Kosovo) / Demagog (Poland),  Logically (UK, India), Maldita.es (Spain) / AAP FactCheck (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands) / Raskrinkavanje.me (Montenegro) / TEMPO (Indonesia), Teyit (Turkey) / Verify Media Platform (Syria / Turkey) / Newtral (Spain) / Faktisk.no (Norway) / TjekDet (Denmark) / Fact-check Ghana (Ghana)/ Cotejo.Info (Venezuela), Polígrafo (Portugal), The Journal FactCheck (Ireland), Full Fact (UK), Fatabyyano (Middle East & North Africa), FactSpace West Africa (Ghana/ Gambia), Fakt Yoxla (Azerbaijan), BOOM (India, Myanmar, Bangladesh), Africa Check (South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya), VishvasNews (India), CORRECTIV.Faktencheck (Germany), Estadão Verifica (Brazil), Truthmeter.mk/Metamorphosis Foundation (North Macedonia) / Check Your Fact (United States) / Chequeado (Argentina) / PolitiFact (United States) RMIT ABC Fact Check/ RMIT FactLab (Australia) / 20 Minutes Fake off (France) /Annie Lab (Hong Kong) / Mongolian Fact-Checking Center (Mongolia, Kazakhstan) / The Logical Indian (India) / MediaWise (U.S.) / Eesti Päevalehe Faktikontroll (Estonia) / Oštro (Slovenia) / Open (Italy) / FactCheckN (United Kingdom) / Pravda (Poland) / Les Surligneurs (France) / Code for Africa (CfA) / PesaCheck (Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda) / UOL Confere (Brazil) / The Whistle (Israel) / Fast Check CL (Chile) / Observador Fact Check (Portugal) / FactCheck NI (Northern Ireland) Taiwan FactCheck Center (Taiwan)