Goodbye FB? Palace open to restricting slow-response social media platforms

Malacañang says it may limit platforms that fail to act on requests tied to violence and disinformation.

File photo: Facebook

Palace weighs social media limits

Malacañang said it is open to considering restrictions on social media platforms that fail to respond promptly to government requests involving violent content and disinformation.

According to a BusinessWorld article, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro made the statement after the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said it is considering recommending a ban on Facebook, following a deadly shooting at a school in Zamboanga City that was livestreamed online.

Castro told reporters the matter needs to be studied, noting that violence and possible fake news appear across various social platforms. She said that if a platform shows no accountability and is slow to act on requests meant to protect Filipinos from violence and disinformation, it would be worth examining whether that platform should remain part of the country's digital ecosystem.

Castro added that the Palace is open to removing platforms or applications found to be harmful to young people and the country.

The government has previously pressed Meta, Facebook's parent company, to strengthen its measures against false and panic-inducing content, and has warned of possible legal action.

Separately, Party-list Rep. Jude A. Acidre called for stricter government regulation of social media, online gaming, and other digital platforms accessed by Filipino children, arguing that technology companies should share responsibility for keeping minors safe online.

In a statement Tuesday, Acidre said recent incidents of violence involving students should push authorities to scrutinize the digital spaces where young people spend much of their time. He urged Congress to consider a Social Media and Digital Safety Act that would require platforms to implement reliable age verification and stronger safeguards for minors.

Acidre cautioned against oversimplifying the issue, saying social media or online games should not be blamed as the sole cause of violence. He also proposed stronger privacy protections, parental controls, limits on minors' communication with strangers, and safeguards against harmful content and features designed to encourage prolonged platform use.

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Via: BusinessWorld