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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Newlywed solons file bill criminalizing troll farms, election disinformation

Newlywed solons file bill criminalizing troll farms, election disinformation

Published Dec 9, 2024 03:52 am

At A Glance

  • A measure that seeks to safeguard the integrity of Philippine elections by criminalizing troll farms and election disinformation has been filed in the House of Representatives.

20240415_183623.jpgDavao Oriental 2nd district Rep. Cheeno Almario (left), Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles (Facebook)

A measure that seeks to safeguard the integrity of Philippine elections by criminalizing troll farms and election disinformation has been filed in the House of Representatives.

PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita “Atty. Migs” Nograles-Almario and Davao Oriental 2nd district Rep. Cheeno Almario, who just recently tied the knot, said House Bill (HB) No. 11178 or the Anti-Troll Farm and Election Disinformation Act sought to uphold truth and transparency in the democratic process.

Specifically, the bill sets out to criminalize the practice of troll farms and disinformation campaigns that have targeted political candidates during the election season.

In a statement, Nograles-Almario said the measure was a testament to their commitment that the voice of the Filipino people “remains genuine and untainted by lies".

“Troll farms are not just digital pranks—they are systematic tools designed to deceive voters and distort democracy,” she said.

Nograles-Almario said the impact of troll farms—which continues to be prevalent in manipulating political discourse—is not only limited to undermining the integrity of the elections as they also tarnish the Philippines’ reputation on the global stage.

By addressing these issues through legislation, she said the country can reaffirm its commitment to democratic values both at home and abroad.

HB No. 11178 empowers the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to work with agencies such as the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) to monitor and investigate troll farms.

The bill also mandates educational campaigns led by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to promote voter awareness and critical thinking on social media.

Nograles-Almario pointed out that through education, the public would be equipped with the tools to recognize and combat disinformation. She said this nurtures a “more informed and responsible electorate".

The proposed measure likewise penalizes violators with imprisonment of six to twelve years and fines ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.

It stated that political candidates who knowingly benefit from disinformation activities would be disqualified from running.

Social media platforms, meanwhile, would be held accountable for their failure to remove disinformation—subject to “significant fines”.

Almario, for his part, pointed out that the spread of disinformation has dire consequences on society as it only foster division and further erode public trust in institutions.

“This is about more than just elections, this is about the fabric of our society,” he said.

As such, the bill includes provisions to protect whistleblowers who expose troll farms and disinformation campaigns. This is to promote transparency and shield whistleblowers from retaliation.

The newlywed solons are urging their colleagues in Congress and stakeholders across various sectors to support the measure as the 2025 midterm elections looms.

“This legislation is not just about combating today’s challenges, it’s about safeguarding the future of our democracy for generations to come,” said Almario.

“We owe it to the Filipino people to ensure that their votes and voices are protected,” he stressed.

Related Tags

Disinformation Migs Nograles Cheeno Miguel Almario troll farms
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