In recent discussions, Jay Ruiz, the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), underscored the critical importance of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in curbing the spread of fake news on social media platforms.

The Philippines has experienced a marked increase in the dissemination of disinformation and misleading content, particularly affecting various government branches.

To address these concerns, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has mandated the urgent resolution of disinformation issues, especially relating to the circulation of fake news targeting prominent personalities.

During a hearing conducted by a House tri-committee investigating online disinformation, Ruiz recounted an incident involving a false memorandum that allegedly originated from the Office of the Executive Secretary.

According to Ruiz, Meta declined to remove this content, despite receiving validation from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) confirming that the memo was indeed fake.

Ruiz stated, "Despite our report, the platforms maintain that they adhere to freedom of expression and community standards, asserting that individual users are accountable for their accounts." He raised concerns regarding the lack of regulatory power that Meta and similar platforms wield in the Philippines, asserting that these companies do not base operations in the country or contribute to its tax revenues, yet they do not take adequate measures to combat the spread of misinformation.

The dissemination of false information is perceived as detrimental to public trust and undermines the government’s efforts to address the needs of the people.

Additionally, President Marcos highlighted the necessity for accurate information dissemination to ensure that citizens can fully benefit from government programs, such as the initiative providing rice at P20 per kilogram to enhance food security and social support.

Ruiz further pointed to practices in Singapore, where online platforms can incur penalties of up to 6% of their profits if deemed responsible for the dissemination of fake news.

This approach reinforces the notion of digital accountability within that nation.

He stated, "Penalties against social media platforms can be substantial—6% of profits for the propagation of false news."

The potential consequences of misinformation are significant, especially regarding voter decisions based on inaccurate information.

Ruiz emphasized the impact on democracy, stating, "If our citizens base their decisions on lies, what kind of generation and democracy are we fostering?" He acknowledged the fundamental right to information but insisted that it must be rooted in accuracy, indicating the imperative need for platforms to take responsibility for the truthfulness of the content they host.