Metro Manila, Philippines – The government urged Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. to strengthen safeguards and response mechanisms against disinformation amid the rapid spread of false information, including misleading content on fuel price advisories and the president’s health.
In a letter dated April 10, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda and Presidential Communications Office chief Dave Gomez wrote to Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive officer, to take action on disinformation.
“The rapid proliferation of false, misleading, and panic- inducing content—particularly those relating to oil prices, economic disruptions, and government actions—poses a direct and escalating threat to public order, economic confidence, and national security. The scale and velocity of such content on Meta’s platforms significantly amplify these risks,” the letter read.
The Cabinet official listed a number of misleading content proliferated in the platform, including fabricated medical documents about the health of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., exaggerated oil price hikes and supposed energy lockdown, and false pronouncements relating to law enforcement, among others.
Aguda and Gomez said the persistence of these contents demonstrates that “existing safeguards are not commensurate with the current level of public risk.”
In light of these incidents, the government asked Meta to tighten its mechanisms, enumerating detailed measures including faster takedown interventions. The government demands the following to be carried out by the Facebook owner:
- Enhanced proactive detection and suppression systems for high-risk disinformation, including coordinated inauthentic behavior;
- An expedited government-flagging and takedown protocol, with priority handling for content affecting public safety, economic stability, and national security;
- Designation of a senior-level, 24/7 coordination focal point to ensure real-time engagement on urgent cases;
- Clearly defined escalation pathways and enforceable response timelines for high-risk content categories; and
- Regular transparency reporting on enforcement actions taken in relation to harmful content affecting the Philippines, among others.
The agencies required Meta to submit a detailed implementation plan within seven days upon receiving the letter.
DICT and PCO officials warned the company that failure to act may prompt regulatory and legal measures under Philippine law.
“The Philippine government remains prepared to engage constructively. However, given the urgency of the current situation, immediate, concrete, and verifiable action is expected,” the agencies said.
Meta Philippines has yet to comment on the matter.
