By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Tuesday said it is open to proposals to ban social media platforms such as Facebook and gaming apps if found to pose serious risks to public safety and fail to address misinformation and online harms.
Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement after the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said it was considering recommending a ban on Facebook following the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
Usec. Castro said any proposal must first undergo study, particularly if platforms fail to cooperate with government efforts to protect Filipinos from violence, misinformation, and other online risks.
“Kung kinakailangan po at ito po ang napag-aralan kasi marami po talagang … hindi lamang po sa nagiging marahas iyong nakikita natin sa iba’t ibang klase na social platform at sa social media, kailangan din pong pag-aralan kung ito ba ay nakakabuti sa paglaganap ng mga fake news sa ating bansa,” Usec. Castro said.
She said platforms that do not provide adequate accountability or respond promptly to government requests to protect users should be assessed.
“Kung hindi magkakaroon ng accountability ang anumang social media platform at parang nababalewala ang ating mga hiling para maproteksyonan ang ating mga kababayan laban sa karahasan, laban sa fake news, kung mabagal ang pagtugon, magandang pag-isipan at pag-aralan kung dapat silang manatili na parte ng ating sistema,” she said.
Asked whether such a ban could infringe on freedom of expression, Castro distinguished between misinformation and legitimate criticism.
“Iba naman po kasi iyong fake news; iba naman po kasi iyong ikaw ay naglalahad lamang ng inyong opinion, kritiko ka, hindi po iyan pinagbabawalan,” she said.
“Wala pong pinagbabawalang kritiko lalung-lalo na sa panahon ngayon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” she added.
Usec. Castro said the administration’s concern is the deliberate spread of false information, particularly its potential impact on young people.
She said the government would also consider other digital platforms and applications that may pose risks to children and the country.
Facebook remains one of the country’s most widely used social media platforms, with around 95 million Filipino users.
