By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Following the appearance of Meta during the hearing of the House Tri-Committee on fake news and disinformation, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V lauded the tech giant’s declaration of its willingness to collaborate with the Philippine government on potential regulation.

Meta is the parent company of social media apps Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Its declaration of support is in line with the mounting pressure on government institutions to create reforms that will address toxicity and spread of disinformation on social media platforms in the Philippines.

After praising Meta’s initiative, Ortega also called on other platforms to follow the tech giant’s footsteps as the government seeks to protect the truth and gain public trust amidst the relentless barrage of fake news in the domestic cyberspace.

“Kung ang Meta ay handang makipagtulungan, dapat masundan ito ng iba. Hindi natin ito malalabanan nang kanya-kanya. Dito nasusubok kung sino talaga ang kakampi ng katotohanan at bilang mga mambabatas, responsibilidad naming itaguyod ang totoo—lalo na sa panahong nilalason ito,” the La Union solon said.

“Kapag hindi na alam ng mga tao kung ano ang totoo, doon nagsisimulang gumuho ang tiwala sa pamahalaan, sa batas, at sa isa’t isa. Ang laban sa fake news ay hindi lang laban sa kasinungalingan. Laban ito para protektahan ang katotohanan at ang tiwala ng mamamayan.” the lawmaker added, emphasizing that disinformation is not only a technological issue but also a treat to Philippine democracy.

When quizzed about how it would respond to calls for pacifying disinformation on social media platforms, Meta’s Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia Dr. Rafael Frankel affirmed that the tech giant is “more than happy” to work with Congress on initiatives that would help protect users while respecting free expression.

The social media powerhouse’s representative backed up his statement by citing Meta’s collaboration with other nations across Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific to formulate legal interventions tailored to each locale while striking an equilibrium between digital safety and freedom to voice out one’s opinion.

Ortega concluded his statement by emphasizing the importance of civic education, which plays a key role in fortifying moderation systems and enacting institutional solutions. Likewise, he clarified that the House’s probe on fake news is not intended to manipulate political discourse, but to create a safety net from acts of deception in cyberspace.

“Your right ends where my freedom begins”

At the sidelines of the House Tri-Comm hearing on Tuesday, April 8, House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre called for urgent action in response to the growing misuse of social media by online personalities who sow seeds of disinformation, lies, propaganda, and other harmful content while evading accountability and consequences for their actions.

“You can’t just exercise your right to free speech at the expense of someone else’s freedom to live with dignity, truth, and peace. As the saying goes, your right ends where my freedom begins,” Acidre stressed.

The lawmaker emphasized that freedom of speech also has its limitations, and should not be used as a channel for introducing perils in online discourse and altering public opinion, even questioning why society holds traditional media to ethical standards while allowing digital content creators to operate with impunity.

Acidre said the heart of the issue lies in how social media platforms are now being misused—not to connect, inform, or uplift, but to divide, attack and mislead.

“Social media was meant to connect us, to help us share stories, ideas, and important information. But right now, it’s becoming something else—something dangerous—because of the way it’s being used by some people,” he warned.

“When influencers use their platform to spread lies, attack others, or stir hate, that’s not free speech. That’s abuse. And it’s hurting real people,” the lawmaker added.

Meanwhile, Acidre called on social media platforms to cease the selective enforcement of community standards that disrupt the balance between online safety and freedoms of speech and of expression.

Instead he urged for the establishment of clear and fair rules to reinforce responsible digital behavior, not to silence anyone but to ensure that online speech does not trample on the rights and dignity of others. (with reports from Mela Lesmoras | PTV News)

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