By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Amid an ongoing energy emergency, Malacañang said that it maintains a close watch on social media platforms as it grapples with false and misleading information that continues to flood the internet, with the aim of driving a wedge between the citizenry and the government.
This, as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) sent a joint communication to Meta Platforms Inc. chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg, urging Facebook’s parent company to implement further measures against fake news on its platforms.
The letter likewise warned of possible legal action under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, citing the risks posed by disinformation to public order, economic stability, and national security.
“Failure to take prompt and sufficient action shall constrain the Philippine Government to consider appropriate regulatory and legal measures, in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), consistent with applicable laws and the State’s duty to protect public order and national security.”
In the communication jointly signed by PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez and DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, both agency heads underscored the urgency and importance of addressing this online dilemma, stating that the spread of false information undermines public trust and confidence in the government’s response to mitigate the effects of rising fuel prices on various sectors.
The government identified several categories of harmful content still circulating online, including:
• Fabricated medical status documents or announcements falsely alleging illness, incapacity, or death of senior government officials, particularly the President of the Philippines;
• False or misleading advisories (e.g., exaggerated oil price increases, alleged energy supply disruptions, or lockdowns) capable of inducing panic and economic disorder;
• Disinformation targeting financial institutions and payment systems that may undermine public trust.
• Misleading or fabricated pronouncements relating to law enforcement or military operations;
• Narratives encouraging non-compliance with lawful government directives based on false premises; and
• Coordinated inauthentic behavior targeting the government and its officials. The persistence of these content categories demonstrates that existing safeguards are not commensurate with the current level of public risk.
The letter, dated April 10, calls for Meta to acknowledge the receipt of such communication within 48 hours, and submit a detailed implementation plan of its measures against fake news within 7 calendar days.
Malacañang moreover expects the social media giant to enhance its proactive detection and suppression systems for coordinated inauthentic behavior, as well as government-flagging and takedown protocols especially for content that may pose a threat to national security.
The letter also called for the designation of a senior-level, 24/7 coordination focal point to ensure real-time engagement on urgent cases, clearly defined escalation pathways, enforceable response timelines for high-risk content categories, and regular transparency reporting on enforcement actions taken regarding harmful content affecting the Philippines, among others.
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