Law needed to regulate social media platforms – PCO chief

June 7, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government must pass a law that would regulate social media platforms for them to effectively combat the spread of false information, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) chief Jay Ruiz said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Ruiz said social media platforms “want a law from us” that can serve as guidelines that they can follow to moderate content.

“In the absence of a definition of fake news, what will they follow?” he said.

He recognized concerns of those who fear that such a policy may be used to stifle free speech, adding that they are open to dialogue to reach a consensus on the matter.

“You can have a truth commission. We can have the private sector there, you can have the government there. We just have to have a fact-checker,” he said.

“We’re open to dialogue, we’re open to consensus. But there has to be a law regulating social media. Even social media platforms want it,” he added.

Ruiz maintained that there are landmark laws in other countries that Philippine legislators may refer to.

“It’s a must that we first concentrate on fighting fake news together… If the social media platforms continue (to) make their platforms available to fake news operators, then we have a problem,” he said.

Ruiz said the PCO is strengthening its messaging to address false information, especially on online platforms.

Among the government’s initiatives, he said, is to support local digital startups that can serve as alternative to foreign-owned digital platforms.

He also confirmed adopting a “new strategy” in terms of government messaging following the results of the midterm elections.

“People are tired of politics and they want to see that the government is working for them,” he said.

President Marcos has yet to decide on Ruiz’s courtesy resignation.

Tri-comm probe ends

The tri-comm of the House of Representatives terminated on Thursday its investigation into the spread of fake news on social media platforms.

In his closing remarks, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers noted that just a few years ago, the anti-Filipino narrative was started, deliberately and methodically.

Barbers said that one of the significant achievements of the tri-comm was uncovering and fishing out from the mouths of the principal players that some of them were recruited by the Chinese embassy, sent to China and trained in propaganda tactics aimed at influencing public discourse on critical national issues.

“Alarmingly, this includes shaping narratives around the West Philippine Sea to favor China’s territorial claims,” Barbers said. – Jose Rodel Clapano

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