Solon mulls legislative franchise need for Meta to stop fake news
A lawmaker has proposed that Congress require Meta Platforms, the company that manages social media networks like Facebook, to secure a legislative franchise in a bid to stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation on their platforms. REUTERS File photo
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has proposed that Congress require Meta Platforms, the company that manages social media networks like Facebook, to secure a legislative franchise in a bid to stop the spread of misinformation and disinformation on their platforms.
At the final hearing of the House of Representatives’ tri-committee held on Thursday, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel raised the idea after Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz complained that Meta did not take down a supposedly fake executive order that was spreading on Facebook.
According to Pimentel, the government has only requested the takedown of a wrong post, but it was not attended to by Meta, which, the lawmaker said, happens to earn a lot from their platforms, but does not pay taxes in the country.
“I totally agree with the observation of Secretary Jay that we are at the mercy of Meta Platforms. Look at this, Mr. Chair, it’s our government that requested Meta Platforms to take down the fake news of that memorandum that was issued purportedly by ES (Executive Secretary Lucas) Bersamin. But they did not listen to you, and what is painful is that Meta Platforms is not even paying taxes to the Philippine government,” Pimentel said.
READ: Bersamin says Palace memo on House leadership change is fake
“Our request is mere self-regulation. However, as I said, they refused to listen to us. In fact, during the previous hearing, when we asked the Meta representatives, they told us that public officials are subject to criticisms,” he added.
According to Pimentel, if Meta cannot regulate itself and rid its social media platforms of misinformation and disinformation, then it should allow the government to do self-regulation and Congress to exercise its oversight functions.
“So it’s about time, maybe, if they cannot have self-regulation, it must be this government, this administration, we should regulate them. And that is why, Mr. Chair, I think we should really study — I don’t know if it is possible — that we should require this Meta to get a franchise from Congress for them to operate here,” he said.
“Congress has an oversight committee, and we can regulate them. The problem with Meta, they are only concerned about their revenues. There are 90 million users in the Philippines, I think we are the biggest users of this platform in the entire Southeast Asia. They earn a lot, but they cannot self-regulate,” he added.
Speaking in the committee, Ruiz discussed issues faced by the government due to the lack of regulation on social media networks, noting that in other countries, there are already laws imposing stiff penalties on companies should they fail to curb misinformation.
“For example, if you enter a bar, and there are illegal things happening inside, it is not only those who do illegal things who should be arrested, that is just one step — those are the vloggers. The bar’s management should check, as soon as they get into a bar, if they adhere with the rules […] if you cannot do self-regulation, you should consider having others regulate your establishment,” he noted.
During the same discussion, Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said that it might be a good move to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certify bills penalizing the spread of disinformation as urgent. According to Fernandez, with the 19th Congress adjourning next week, the 20th Congress can tackle these bills and hasten the process with Marcos’ certification of the measures.
“As a matter of fact, Chairman, we are going to file bills regarding that, so I think the members of this House will be given that copy as well. I hope the President, through Secretary Ruiz, well, we cannot do this during the 19th Congress, but I think the President must certify (as) urgent ‘yong mga bills that the 20th Congress will be filing,” Fernandez replied.
“Because we really need the intervention of the President here to hasten the creation of the law. And I think the 20th Congress would need at least a year before that law is approved,” he added.
The tri-committee’s inquiry started after lawmakers filed resolutions and delivered privileged speeches in reaction to the misinformation and disinformation spreading about the chairpersons of the House quad committee.
During that time, the quad committee was investigating illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators, the illicit drug trade, and extrajudicial killings in the past administration’s drug war.
Several lawmakers castigated social media personalities for spreading lies on their platforms, including misleading claims that were debunked. At least three bloggers — MJ Quiambao Reyes, Krizette Laureta Chu, and Mark Lopez — apologized to the tri-committee for allegedly spreading lies on their platforms.
Reyes apologized to Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. for claiming that extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration’s drug war were a “hoax,” and that those who criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte were funded by drug cartels, terrorists, and corrupt politicians.
Chu, a journalist who has a political blog, was asked by Abante if she was willing to apologize or clarify her claims that many police officers were about to resign after the International Criminal Court (ICC) took custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Abante’s question came after Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III clarified that there was no mass resignation among police officers, prompting lawmakers to ask Chu where she got her information from.
Chu promised to write about this clarification from the PNP.
READ: Vloggers apologize to lawmakers for spreading false claims
Lopez, meanwhile, apologized to Deputy Speaker David Suarez and Pimentel for claiming that the Philippines also uses water cannons against foreign ships in the West Philippine Sea, like what China does./coa
