Daven Tamayo

House adopts recommendations to enact laws vs. online disinformation

Reader browsing the web for fake news, Jnaury 30, 2018. ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday the report of the Tri Committee recommending enactment of laws and policies to increase accountability of social media platforms and curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation. House Committee on Information and Communications Technology Vice Chairperson Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel presented the recommendations in Committee Report No. 1503 to the plenary. After holding five hearings, the panel came up with 12 measures “to effectively address the proliferation of false and malicious content online.”The first recommendation is to review and amend Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 to address challenges posed by emerging technologies and harmful content online.  The panel suggested to grant subpoena powers to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Director and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director to issue “cyber warrants.”The Tri Comm recommended “explicitly defining” social media platforms, prescribing penalties for offenses, inclusion of provisions on disclosure of data, establishing parameters of auto-blocking of content and preservation and retention of data.Another recommendation is enacting a law establishing the responsibilities of social media platforms, requiring them to practice content oversight, user authentication and &#x27;proactive monitoring&#x27; of prohibited content or practices.Lawmakers earlier questioned the supposed lack of accountability of social media platforms on content that are flagged as misinformation and disinformation.The panel also suggested the creation of a Task Force composed of representatives from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division to implement the measure.  The Tri Comm likewise proposed the creation of a law to establish a &#x27;comprehensive legal framework&#x27; to penalize the creation, publication and financing of false or harmful content online. The proposed act will also mandate foreign-based social media platforms to have local offices and allow government agencies to issue takedown, rectification and block access orders.Lawmakers lamented the lack of accountability of social media platforms, citing the absence of local offices for some. They also pointed out the difficulty in reaching the platforms when there are concerns or issues like taking down false content.Another recommendation was to consider establishing the Digital Council of the Philippines, which will set ethical standards for digital content, as earlier proposed by Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman.  The said council will function like the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.To increase platform accountability, the panel suggested platforms must first secure a franchise, accreditation or registration before it can operate in the country.Several lawmakers repeatedly floated this proposal during the Tri Comm hearings. Other recommendations include the following: <ul style="list-style-type:disc"><li>•Consider legislation on artificial intelligence (AI)</li><li>•Align the Data Privacy Act with international practices in AI-driven data security</li><li>•Implement a data retention and cyber evidence preservation policy</li><li>•Strengthen legal frameworks and mandates of enforcement agencies</li><li>•Institutionalize media and information literacy in school curriculums</li><li>•Promote digital literacy and responsible online behavior</li><li>•Strengthen tax compliance of digital content creators and social media platforms</li></ul>&quot;Much of the fake news plaguing our nation is the result of disinformation campaigns targeting the Filipino public which are neither random nor isolated, but carefully orchestrated, often politically motivated, and executed with the help of influential figures and digital platforms,&quot; House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez said.&quot;The incidents presented before the Tri Committee not only reveal the extent of manipulation but also expose critical gaps in accountability and regulation,&quot; he added.During the Tri Comm&#x27;s investigation, it discovered the emergency of coordinated disinformation campaigns, some supposedly related to the West Philippine Sea and high-ranking government officials.The panel cited the testimonies of several vloggers and social media personalities who spread false or unverified content through their social media posts.&quot;The disinformation campaigns presented before the Committee would not have achieved such widespread influence without the infrastructure provided by social media platforms,&quot; Fernandez said.He pointed out how current regulations are inadequate to address the emerging threat, thus the need for the recommendations.  Representatives of social media platforms Meta and TikTok said they have community standards in place for users to follow, but they differ in content evaluation.  Lawmakers urged social media platforms to be accountable for the posts that are later found to be false or &#x27;fake news.&#x27;  &quot;Freedom of speech is sacred. We agree, and that has always been clear to us. But it was never absolute, and it was never meant to be a shield for libel, deceit, or digital violence,&quot; Pimentel said.&quot;So let me make this clear as well, the Tri Comm was never about silencing dissent. It is about stopping deliberate digital deception, often paid for, often anonymous, and often dangerous. And we cannot in good conscience, stand by and do nothing when this is so clear to us,&quot; he added.The lawmaker ended his speech by underscoring the need for clear regulatory frameworks, local accountability and transparency from social media platforms.

The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday the report of the Tri Committee recommending enactment of laws and policies to increase accountability of social media platforms and curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday the report of the Tri Committee recommending enactment of laws and policies to increase accountability of social media platforms and curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation.