Palace sees need to regulate social media vs. fake news

She acknowledged that the government alone cannot address the issue, saying a “whole-of-nation-approach” is needed to stop the spread of fake news. (File Photo: Dave Adamson/Unsplash)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday said the government is considering regulating social media posts, amid the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the wake of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest and surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said discussions are underway for the possible release of new guidelines for the measure.

“Opo, iyan na po talaga ang pinag-uusapan natin ngayon (Yes, that’s what we’re talking about now),” Castro, said, when asked if concerned agencies would come up with new policies to regulate the use of social media.

Castro lamented that even the Supreme Court has become a victim of fake news, following the circulation of social media posts about the false claims on the high court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order on Duterte’s arrest and the petition seeking the resignation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

She acknowledged that the government alone cannot address the issue, saying a “whole-of-nation-approach” is needed to stop the spread of fake news.

“Hindi lamang po ang gobyerno ang siyang magsasaayos po nito. Lahat po tayo ay dapat magtulung-tulong para po maiwasan po natin, matanggal po natin ang lahat ng mga fake news (It’s not just the government that will fix this. We all have to work together so that we can prevent, we can eliminate all fake news),” she said.

“Kaya kakailanganin po talaga namin ang tulong ng social media, ng mainstream media para masawata po natin ang mga kumakalat na ganitong klase ng fake news (So we really need the help of social media, of the mainstream media so that we can stop this kind of fake news from spreading),” Castro added.

Castro earlier said the PCO is coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to investigate fake news peddlers.