The Philippine government has issued a firm warning to Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, along with WhatsApp and Threads, after the tech giant's formal response to a joint government request was deemed insufficient in addressing the rapid spread of disinformation across its platforms.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), together with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), had previously sent Meta a request for immediate and enhanced measures to curb harmful disinformation online. Meta's reply, while acknowledging the government's concerns, failed to satisfy Philippine officials.

In an official statement, the DICT said it acknowledges that Meta outlined existing measures to limit the spread of false information, and that the company expressed continued willingness to engage with the Philippine government. However, officials say these assurances do not go far enough.

"The interventions highlighted in their reply fall short of directly addressing the urgency of the situation and the specific, time-bound actions we have requested," the DICT said in their official statement.

The government's position is that vague descriptions of existing content moderation policies are no longer adequate at a time when disinformation is capable of triggering real-world harm, affecting public order, economic stability, and public trust in institutions.

Philippine authorities are pushing for three specific outcomes: Clear and binding commitments from Meta, faster enforcement mechanisms against disinformation actors, and measurable results that are aligned with the risks Filipinos face online today.

These demands are part of the government's broader Kontra Fake News Campaign, which aims to combat the deliberate spread of false information while upholding the public's right to accurate information and holding those who spread disinformation accountable.

The DICT stressed that the government remains firmly committed to freedom of expression but drew a clear line at speech designed to cause public panic, undermine trust in institutions, or threaten public order.

"This freedom does not extend to the deliberate spread of false information that can cause public panic, undermine trust in institutions, or threaten public order," the DICT said in a statement.

The DICT has announced it will hold a formal meeting with Meta to push for concrete, time-bound commitments. The government has made clear that if those discussions do not produce meaningful improvements, stronger regulatory and enforcement measures will follow.

This signals a potential shift toward legislative or administrative action should Meta fail to demonstrate tangible progress in addressing disinformation on its Philippine-facing platforms.