Facebook responding to government requests on fake news, violence

Facebook has been responding to government requests to remove fake news and violent content from its platform, Malacañang said Thursday, Aug. 27.

PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the development was a good sign as the government continues to raise concerns over harmful online content, particularly its possible effect on young people.

“Lahat naman tayo gumagamit ng Facebook. Ang huling impormasyon na nakarating sa atin ay may mga pagkakataon na kapag kinakailangan i-take down ang isang post na nagpapakita ng karahasan, o fake news, ay tumutugon naman ang Facebook,” she said at a Palace briefing.

Castro’s statement came two days after Malacañang said President Marcos was open to the possibility of restricting Facebook and other social media platforms because of concerns over their impact on children and young people.

She said the President’s position should not be taken to mean that the government wants to ban every social media platform that fails to immediately respond to its requests.

“Noong Martes po ay nasabi po natin dahil ito din po ang nakita ng CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) at ng DICT ngunit makalipas ng dalawang araw ay binigyan po tayo ng impormasyon na ang Facebook particular ang Facebook ay tumutugon naman daw po sa mga dapat na gawin especially sa mabilisang pag-takedown ng mga fake news,” Castro said.

“Mahirap na kausapin at hindi po ito ibig sabihin na kapag naman iyong iba na mga social media platforms ay hindi tumutugon ay lahat naman po ay dapat na ma-ban. Hindi po iyon ang nais ng ating Pangulo at ng ating administrasyon,” she added.

Castro urged other platforms to cooperate with the government in stopping the spread of false information and violent material online.

“Magandang senyales po iyan kasi para sa lahat na rin po ng social media platforms maging tulong po kayo sa pamahalaan para maiwasan po natin iyong mga bagay-bagay na hindi na po sana kumakalat dahil sa maling impormasyon o sobrang mararahas,” she said.

Castro also called on gaming platforms to take steps against content that could have a harmful effect on young people.

For now, she said, the government has no major concerns over Facebook’s response.

“Kung open man ang Pangulo, sa ngayon ang pinakahuling impormasyon, wala namang masyadong nagiging problema ang ating pamahalaan sa Facebook,” she said.IMT