Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

In this file photo illustration taken on February 17, 2019, the US social media Facebook logo displayed on a tablet in Paris.  Facebook has fallen woefully short in stopping political manipulation of the platform by governments around the world, according to a data scientist fired this month by the social network. A scathing memo written by Sophie Zhang on her last day at Facebook, obtained by BuzzFeed News, claimed the California giant ignored or was slow to act on fake accounts used to undermine elections and political affairs in numerous countries. Lionel Bonaventure, AFP

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA –  The Palace is open to the proposal to ban Facebook and gaming apps to curb school violence and stop the spread of false information.Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Tuesday said the Palace welcomes the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center&#x27;s proposed ban.&quot;Sa lahat ng maaaring gaming apps, lahat ng puwedeng masabing makakasira sa ating mga kabataan at sa bansa natin, open po ang pangulo na matanggal ang lahat ng iyan,&quot; Castro said on Tuesday.(All gaming apps, everything that can be said to be harmful to our youth and to our country — the president is open to removing all of that.)CICC Executive Director Aboy Paraiso earlier said they are considering banning Facebook platform because of misinformation and online abuse.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/6/24/cicc-gorebox-ban-to-stay-until-developer-adds-safeguards-1906">CICC: GoreBox ban to stay until developer adds safeguards</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/20/cicc-yet-to-access-gadgets-social-media-accounts-of-zamboanga-school-shooter-1534">CICC yet to access gadgets, social media accounts of Zamboanga school shooter</a></div>Facebook is a popular social media platform in the Philippines, and it is the top source of online news among Filipinos according to Pulse Asia.Castro said social media and social platforms contribute to violence and help spread &quot;fake news&quot; in the country.She said that if the platforms do not take accountability and &quot;seemingly ignore requests&quot; to protect users from violence and disinformation: &quot;Magandang pag-isipan at pag-aralan kung dapat silang manatili na parte ng ating sistema.&quot;(It would be good to consider and study if they should continue to be part of our system.) Castro said this is not a form of curtailing free speech.She said those expressing opinions, even those critical of government, should be welcome to do so.&quot;Iba naman po kasi iyong &#x27;fake news&#x27;,&quot; Castro said.(But &#x27;fake news&#x27; is different.)The Presidential Communication Office established an Anti-Fake News Desk to, it said, actively fight disinformation peddlers earlier this year.&quot;Ang hindi lamang po natin matatanggap at lalung-lalo nang hindi matatanggap ng pangulo ay ang paglaganap ng &#x27;fake news&#x27;,&quot; Castro said.(What is unacceptable and what the president does not accept is the spread of &#x27;fake news&#x27;.)Marcos Jr., who ran alongide then ally Sara Duterte, was himself the beneficiary of disinformation during the 2022 election campaign.Social media then <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/06/22/pro-marcos-misinformation-targets-robredo">was flooded with posts and doctored photos discrediting then Vice President Leni Robredo</a>, his closest rival to the presidency.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/nbi-to-ask-meta-who-watched-shared-zamboanga-school-shooting-livestream-1424">NBI to ask Meta &#x27;who watched, shared&#x27; Zamboanga school shooting livestream</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/hontiveros-calls-for-stronger-platform-accountability-after-adzu-shooting-1056">Hontiveros calls for stronger platform accountability after Zamboanga school shooting</a></div>

The Palace is open to the proposal of banning Facebook and other gaming apps to curb school violence and stop the spread of false information.

The Palace is open to the proposal of banning Facebook and other gaming apps to curb school violence and stop the spread of false information.

Palace open to banning Facebook gaming apps over violence and disinformation

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Palace open to banning Facebook gaming apps over violence and disinformation

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 25, 2026 04:05 PM PHT

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