House Lawmakers Demand Meta Regulation
House lawmakers are pushing to regulate Meta by requiring the tech giant to secure a franchise. This comes amid growing frustration over Meta’s reluctance to curb fake news on its social media platforms. The call for Meta regulation reflects lawmakers’ concern about unchecked disinformation spreading across the country.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the House tri-committee investigating fake news, emphasized that President Marcos should certify a bill targeting misinformation as urgent. Fernandez said outgoing 19th Congress members plan to file the measure before adjournment, hoping for swift presidential action. “Kailangan na dito ng intervention ng presidente na maisabatas ‘yun,” he stressed during the tri-committee’s final hearing on fake news.
Meta’s Resistance and Lawmakers’ Frustration
The push for Meta regulation intensified after the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz revealed that even government requests to remove false content were rejected by Meta. The company cited freedom of expression and its community standards as reasons for not taking down misinformation. “Hindi nila tinanggal. Ang reason ng mga platforms is that: freedom of expression. May community standards kami,” Ruiz said.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel echoed this frustration, sharing that Meta dismissed similar requests for self-regulation. “We’re just requesting self-regulation from them. However, sabi ko nga, di tayo pinapakinggan,” he said. Meta representatives reportedly told lawmakers that public officials are subject to criticism, further complicating demands for content moderation.
Pimentel argued that if Meta refuses self-regulation, the government should step in. “It’s about time that if they cannot have self-regulation, it must be this government to regulate them,” he stated. He suggested Congress study the possibility of requiring Meta to obtain a franchise to operate legally in the Philippines.
Combating Foreign Misinformation on West Philippine Sea
Fernandez also highlighted the alarming spread of false narratives about the West Philippine Sea (WPS). He described this as a subtle but dangerous form of foreign interference aimed at weakening the country’s maritime claims. “Ipinakita sa ating mga hearings na hinaharap natin ang isang tahimik ngunit mapanganib na anyo ng pananakop,” he said.
He warned that China uses social media to distort history, confuse the public, and normalize its illegal presence in Philippine waters. “Ginagamit nila ang maling impormasyon upang linlangin ang ating isipan, baluktutin ang kasaysayan, at siraan ang ating lehitimong karapatan sa ating sariling karagatan,” Fernandez stressed. Filipino vloggers and influencers have reportedly been exploited to promote these narratives.
The tri-committee plans to release a report soon with concrete recommendations to counteract these threats.
Urgent Legislation and Digital Literacy Efforts
Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino II emphasized the urgent need for laws that hold malicious actors accountable and enhance digital literacy. “The rampant spread of online disinformation distorts reality, fosters distrust, fuels hatred, and sows confusion,” he said.
Aquino called for empowering government agencies with mandates to enforce accountability. “We also have to ensure that those who deliberately spread falsehoods are held accountable under the law,” he added. He stressed the importance of educating the youth to discern truth from falsehood, which is vital for building a resilient, informed citizenry.
For more news and updates on fake news regulation, visit Filipinokami.com.