Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla is pushing for an inter-agency approach that would prevent the abuse of Philippine internet and other tools for information and communication.
Padilla stressed this in Senate Resolution 191 which also seeks an investigation in aid of legislation that would enhance the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and related laws.
"The spread of fake news through means such as social media, messaging mobile applications and SMS has considerably widened the social and political divide among Filipinos resulting in confusion, distrust and proliferation of hate speech," Padilla said in his resolution.
He cited a Supreme Court ruling that recognizes that ‘'although freedom of expression enjoys an exalted place in the hierarchy of constitutional rights... the exercise of the right is not absolute for it may be so regulated that it shall not be injurious to the equal enjoyment of others having equal rights, not injurious to the rights of the community or society.’’
The resolution tasks the Senate committee on public information and mass media led by Padilla to undertake the legislative inquiry.
In his resolution, Padilla noted $78 billion has been lost to the world economy every year due to fake news in the "financial, public health and business sector, and also in politics.”
He also noted the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution against fake news last April 1, 2022.
"Pursuant to the police power of the State, Congress has the power to enact laws to regulate speech and restrict any form of expression that may convey false information within the bounds of the Constitution in order to curb the spread and abate the ill effects of 'fake news,'" Padilla pointed.
Padilla noted several institutions need to do their part against fake news, including:
* The news industry, which needs to promote news literacy and professional journalism; and
* Educational institutions, which need to be proactive against online propaganda, misinformation and falsehoods
Also, Padilla noted the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Philippine National Police (PNP) set up a task force against fake news during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Only last August, the PNP’s anti-cybercrime group intensified its cyber patrolling against fake news.