Senator Nancy Binay on Wednesday, October 12 said she believes a law regulating the flow of information to eradicate fake news is not necessary.
“I don’t think legislation is necessary. The Constitution guarantees free speech, and it would be ironic if we regulate or restrict speech or other expression dahil magkaiba tayo ng opinyon o pananaw (just because we have different opinions or views),” Binay said in a statement.
Binay made the remarks after a Pulse Asia survey showed that about nine (9) out of 10 Filipinos see “fake news” as a problem in the Philippines.
The poll was conducted from September 17-21, and only 14 percent of respondents across the country do not regard fake news as an issue.
For her part, Binay said she also believe that the proliferation of fake news is becoming “an uncontrolled virus.”
“In these times when every bit of information is unvetted and unverified, maraming naniniwala sa tsismis at mali-maling impormasyon (many believe people believe in gossip and false information),” Binay lamented.
“At kung walang magsasalita para iwasto ang mga maling impormasyong natatanggap ng publiko, paniguradong mananaig ang kasinungalingan (And if no one speaks to correct these false information that the public hears, lies will prevail for sure),” the senator said.
She noted that the media, academe, historians and even those in the private and public sectors are often victims of fake news.
“Kaya (That’s why) we need people or even non-government watchdogs who can refute fake news publicly,” she said.
“Mas makakatulong kung may program or campaign ang gobyerno (It would be good if the government holds a program or campaign) together with the academe and the private sector in fighting fake news,” added the lawmaker.
“Sa ganitong paraan (this way), we know which and who to trust, and somehow put some sense of credibility to the information or news that we receive,” she said.