The Philippine government has ordered Meta Platforms Inc., operator of Facebook, to tighten controls against fake and panic-inducing content, or risk legal action.
In a joint letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) warned that ongoing disinformation violates the law and threatens public order, the economy, and national security.
“Failure to take prompt and sufficient action shall constrain the Philippine Government to consider appropriate regulatory and legal measures,” the letter said.
Meta has 48 hours to confirm receipt and seven days to submit a concrete action plan.
Authorities flagged harmful content still circulating, including fake reports on the President’s health, misleading advisories on oil price hikes and energy supply, and disinformation targeting financial institutions and law enforcement.
The government stressed that the spread of false information is worsening public panic amid rising fuel costs and prices of basic goods.IMT
