“We are also deeply concerned by the increasing restrictions on freedom of the press and the deliberate targeting of journalists in the Philippines,” Adam Austen, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne, told The Logic. “Journalists must be able to do their work freely and without fear. We have been proud to work alongside Ms. Ressa to promote press freedom around the world.” (The Logic)

Talking point: Ressa, a former Time Magazine Person of the Year and co-founder of Philippine online news platform Rappler, was found guilty on Monday—a sentence that could see her and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr. go to jail for up to six years. The conviction came in the wake of Rappler’s critical coverage of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and his weaponization of social media to win and retain power. Duterte has cracked down on journalists in the country, saying they were “not exempted from assassination.” After the verdict, Ressa found support among press freedom advocates globally, including Twitter. Canadian members of the International Grand Committee on Big Data, Privacy and Democracy wrote of their “deep unease” about the decision, urging the Philippine ambassador to Canada to have the charges dropped. A Filipino senator warned the conviction “will not be the last” if it is not fought. The United States has also expressed its concern and asked for a “resolution of the case in a way that reinforces” press freedoms. Ressa said she was “angry but in search of justice,” adding that the judiciary “became implicit in this insidious campaign to silence [journalists].”