‘Social media platforms should police fake news’

June 6, 2025 | 12:00am

vMANILA, Philippines —  Social media platforms have the primary responsibility to police fake news to ensure that content creators do not violate the law, particularly in spreading false content, deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated disinformation.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz made the statements yesterday during the House tri-comm hearing on online fake news and disinformation, where lawmakers pushed for stronger regulation of digital platforms operating in the country.

Aguda said that traditional broadcast media in the Philippines are subject to self-regulation and oversight through state agencies while social media platforms, despite having far greater reach, operate without regulation.

Ruiz echoed Aguda’s view and called for legislative action to address the rise of disinformation using new technologies.

Acop then questioned the representative of Google Philippines, lawyer Ives Gonzales, on whether the company agreed with the Cabinet officials’ view.

Gonzales said, “We agree that everyone who uses these platforms have the appropriate responsibility, including the platforms as well. So, Mr. Chair, for things that are within the control of the platform, we would take accountability for that.”

The tri-comm is expected to consolidate proposed legislation that would impose new obligations on social media platforms.

Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel proposed that Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, be required to obtain a congressional franchise before it can operate in the Philippines, citing its refusal to take down verified fake content and its lack of tax compliance.

He criticized Meta’s inaction even in cases where the government had officially verified the falsity of viral content.

Ruiz pointed to Singapore’s model, where platforms face fines of up to six percent of their profits for spreading disinformation.

AI as media ‘enhancer’

At a briefing for visiting Filipino and Japanese journalists on the first Trilateral Friends, Partners, Allies reporting tour, John Cook of the GeekWire said they do not view AI as killer of journalism.

“We don’t look at it as a killer. We look at it as an enhancer, and a tool that we need to learn how to use in harnessing so we can stay in front of competitors and make sure that we are utilizing it as best as we can,” Cook said.

“I do think if you’re not embracing AI and thinking about it in a creative way in terms of how you’re enhancing your own product, you’re going to be left behind and so we are embracing it as much as we can and thinking about it as an enhancer, not a killer (of journalism),” he noted. –  Delon Porcalla, Pia Lee-Brago