SOCIAL media platforms could be allowed to continue operating in the Philippines but prevented from earning through advertisements if they refuse to establish meaningful local accountability and cooperate with authorities against harmful content, scams and online recruitment.
“Dahil pag sinabing hindi, hindi natin sila mahawakan, ‘di huwag din natin i-allow ’yung kanilang, they can operate pero bawal ’yung ads, bawal kumita,” Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo stressed during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Garin raised the option while criticizing the difficulty Philippine authorities face in getting Meta to promptly act against problematic Facebook content because its local operation is principally focused on marketing.
“They cannot allow us to police their institution at ’yan ’yung sabihin na nating Meta. Andito sales office lang, napakalinaw, sales office lang andito sa Pilipinas,” Garin explained.
The House has deferred consideration of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) proposed budget while demanding a stronger government plan for dealing with platforms carrying scams, illegal gambling, child exploitation and other harmful material.
Garin stressed that the DICT need not act alone if some of the necessary enforcement powers reside with other agencies.
“Pero puwede ka namang makipag-ugnayan sa ibang ahensya. There’s always a whole-of-government approach at diyan tayo nakukulangan,” Garin pointed out.
She called for Meta to maintain personnel in the country who can receive complaints and act on urgent requests instead of referring Philippine authorities to offices overseas.
“Basta ang importante meron kayong tao, accountable, who can take down pages na kapag ito ay nagbibigay at puwedeng humantong sa kamatayan ng ating kabataan,” Garin said.
The DICT has acknowledged congressional concerns and called for stronger safeguards, faster removal of harmful content and closer cooperation between social media companies and Philippine authorities.
Garin maintained that access to the lucrative Philippine advertising market should carry corresponding obligations when platforms are being used for activities that endanger their users.
Any restriction on advertising would still require the government to determine what legal or regulatory mechanism could lawfully be used against a platform that failed to meet those accountability demands, she said.
metrosundaily
