Metro Manila, Philippines – A House tri-panel will hold a discussion with social media platform officials to discuss their policies and measures against disinformation.
The House committees on public order and safety, public information, and information and communications technology have come together, forming the tri-committee, which will conduct an inquiry on fake news, aiming to expose the perpetrators.
The tri-panel will have its first executive briefing on Monday, in which lawmakers will assess the effectiveness of the platforms’ accountability measures and identify legislative gaps.
“Ang mga Pilipino ay may karapatan sa katotohanan. Dapat protektahan natin ang ating mga kababayan laban sa mga maling impormasyong nagdudulot ng takot, kalituhan at pagkakawatak-watak ng ating lipunan,” Santa Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, public order and safety panel chairman, said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 26.
[Translation: Filipinos have a right to truth. We have to protect our fellow Filipinos against disinformation that causes fear, confusion, and divisiveness in our society.]
“Hindi natin hahayaang magpatuloy ang sistemang ito kung saan nalilinlang ang ating mga kababayan. Panahon na upang malaman natin ang mga nagpapakalat ng kasinungalingan para sa pansariling interes,” he said.
[Translation: We will not allow such a system to continue wherein our fellow Filipinos are being duped. It is time for us to know who spreads lies for their own interest.]
The tri-committee investigation will concentrate on the dangers of fake news, especially to those vulnerable to cyberbullying and online harassment.
House representatives are anticipated to lobby policies that seek to put stricter safeguards and penalties for violators in place.
Fernandez appealed to the public to be critical of the content they see in the digital space.
Based on a 2023 Presidential Communications Office study, about nine out of 10 Filipinos are either a fake news victim or have troubles in their consumption of information and media.
