'Separate regulatory body' eyed to monitor online posts to combat fake news
A separate government regulatory board that will focus on monitoring posts on social media is being eyed in an effort to reduce the spread of fake news online.
The Philippine STAR reported that presidential press officer Claire Castro brought up the idea at the tri-committee hearing on fake news, saying that forming another regulatory body for such could help fight the proliferation of fake news on the Internet.
"For me, I think it would be best if we can create a separate regulatory body to monitor all these," she said, noting that certain scenes that deal with sex, violence, and other sensitive topics should not be easily accessible online.
The officials at the hearing became open to Castro's idea. According to the STAR, administration lawmakers are looking into "either amending the Public Service Act and compelling social media platforms to secure a 'legislative franchise' from Congress for purposes of regulating the proliferation of fake news."
"If you are under the franchise of this Congress, then you will be subject to the regulation that will be imposed under the law,” Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.
Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, meanwhile, suggested that the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas as well as the Movies Television Review Classification Board "update and upgrade" their rules in line with it "so that they can help the government."
Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said it might also help to amend the Congress' Public Service Act to include National Telecommunications Commission for social media platforms and place it under "public utilities."
This comes almost three months after lawmakers Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles and Rep. Cheeno Almario filed a House Bill aiming to criminalize troll farms for disinformation campaigns ahead of the May 2025 elections.
House Bill 11178, or the Anti-Troll Farm and Election Disinformation Act, aims to legally penalize individuals who are “producing, publishing, or amplifying false or misleading information” against a political candidate with the intent to damage their reputation or candidacy.
In their explanatory note, the lawmakers noted that the rise of troll farms and disinformation have become a “serious threat” to voters’ right to elect freely and fairly. (with reports from Delon Porcalla, The Philippine STAR)
