PNP to arrest purveyors of fake news about virus
Published Feb 11, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año on Tuesday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to leave no stones unturned in the arrest of groups or individuals spreading fake news about the 2019 novel Coronavirus (nCoV) to the public.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We will go after the perpetrators of false information on coronavirus because their acts are inimical to the interest of the general public,” Año said.
With the country facing a serious problem on nCoV,
Año stressed the need to end this “nuisance activity. Let's not propagate erroneous information that is more viral than the virus itself. We already have enough on our plate.’’
Hindi po sila nakakatulong sa paglutas ng ating problema bagkus mas pinapalala pa nila ang problema. (They are not helping solve the problem and yet they are worsening the situation)," he added.
With his order, Año expects the PNP to intensify the arrest of those “guilty of spreading false information on the issue on various social media platforms’’.
"Freedom of expression has limitations, especially when its exercise threatens the welfare of the public. We must put an end to fake news on social media,” he noted.
Año warned the unscrupulous groups spreading lies about the virus to stop now before the law catches up with them.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said that the DILG itself was a victim of fake news when an infographic allegedly coming from the agency distributed last Friday alleging that the department has decided to place on mandatory quarantine all travellers from 23 countries who have confirmed nCoV cases.
“The unauthorized and patently illegal infographic went viral and caused panic among travellers who wanted to cancel their travel plans because of the misrepresentation of these people. It has become absurd and worrisome,” Malaya said.
“Again, we urge the public to trust only official sources of information and to verify first before sharing. Think first before you click,” he added.
Malaya said that the PNP's Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), which investigates crimes using Information and Communications Technology, is capable of tracing and tracking fake news perpetrators on the Internet. It is currently verifying six suspected fake news posts on the coronavirus on social media.
"The PNP-ACG is working hard to detect the whereabouts of these law offenders. We expect arrests to be made soon," said Malaya.
Malaya explained that Article 154 on the "Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances” of the Revised Penal Code punishes perpetrators of fake news.
He noted that the same provision penalizes a person who causes the publication of any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State.
Violators face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40, 000 to P200,000.
They could also be punished under the Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We will go after the perpetrators of false information on coronavirus because their acts are inimical to the interest of the general public,” Año said.
With the country facing a serious problem on nCoV,
Año stressed the need to end this “nuisance activity. Let's not propagate erroneous information that is more viral than the virus itself. We already have enough on our plate.’’
Hindi po sila nakakatulong sa paglutas ng ating problema bagkus mas pinapalala pa nila ang problema. (They are not helping solve the problem and yet they are worsening the situation)," he added.
With his order, Año expects the PNP to intensify the arrest of those “guilty of spreading false information on the issue on various social media platforms’’.
"Freedom of expression has limitations, especially when its exercise threatens the welfare of the public. We must put an end to fake news on social media,” he noted.
Año warned the unscrupulous groups spreading lies about the virus to stop now before the law catches up with them.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said that the DILG itself was a victim of fake news when an infographic allegedly coming from the agency distributed last Friday alleging that the department has decided to place on mandatory quarantine all travellers from 23 countries who have confirmed nCoV cases.
“The unauthorized and patently illegal infographic went viral and caused panic among travellers who wanted to cancel their travel plans because of the misrepresentation of these people. It has become absurd and worrisome,” Malaya said.
“Again, we urge the public to trust only official sources of information and to verify first before sharing. Think first before you click,” he added.
Malaya said that the PNP's Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), which investigates crimes using Information and Communications Technology, is capable of tracing and tracking fake news perpetrators on the Internet. It is currently verifying six suspected fake news posts on the coronavirus on social media.
"The PNP-ACG is working hard to detect the whereabouts of these law offenders. We expect arrests to be made soon," said Malaya.
Malaya explained that Article 154 on the "Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances” of the Revised Penal Code punishes perpetrators of fake news.
He noted that the same provision penalizes a person who causes the publication of any false news which may endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or credit of the State.
Violators face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine ranging from P40, 000 to P200,000.
They could also be punished under the Republic Act 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.