Balita.org: Your Premier Source for Comprehensive Philippines News and Insights! We bring you the latest news, stories, and updates on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, economy, and more. Stay tuned to know everything you wish about your favorite stars 24/7.

Contacts

  • balita.org

House invites social media users to fake news probe

MANILA, Philippines — At least 40 personalities from several platforms in social media have been invited by the House of Representatives as it starts its investigation tomorrow on the spread of fake news and disinformation in the country.

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez of the tri-committee of the chamber will preside over the joint committee of the House committee on public order and safety that he heads, along with two others – committees on public information, and information and communications technology.

The Sta. Rosa City congressman said the joint committee will hold the hearings and try to examine how disinformation spreads online, its impact on public perception and national security, and the measures needed to combat it.

“The Filipino people deserve no less than the truth. That is why we need to protect them from false information intended to mislead the people and divide them as well. Fake news should be stopped because this only creates further polarization among us,” Fernandez said.

Personalities expected to be in attendance tomorrow include representatives from Google, Meta (Facebook) and ByteDance (TikTok), as well as officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Lawmakers expect NBI and PNP officials, along with DOJ prosecutors, to discuss and explore regulatory challenges and enforcement mechanisms against online disinformation that have been flooding social media sites.

Fernandez said the inquiry seeks to identify weaknesses in existing laws and policies governing digital platforms, and to propose solutions to ensure the public has access to accurate and reliable information.

He added that the House will not tolerate deliberate misinformation campaigns that exploit digital platforms for political or financial gain. “We will not allow them to use social media to fool our people. It’s about time we put more teeth in this campaign against fake news and disinformation.”

House members are expected to explore measures that will strengthen platform accountability, impose penalties for repeat offenders, and improve digital literacy programs to help Filipinos critically

Read more on philstar.com
DMCA