Robredo wants FB troll accounts checked for cyberbullying

Vice President Leni Robredo (right) discusses current issues in her radio program “BISErbisyong Leni” with co-anchor Ely Saludar (left) and guest Chel Diokno. (Photo from a video posted on Robredo’s Facebook timeline)

MANILA, Philippines — Following Facebook’s move to take down around 200 Facebook pages, accounts, and groups exhibiting “coordinated and inauthentic behavior,” Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she would want the accounts to be investigated for possible cyberbullying.

Robredo said that, if proven guilty of cyberbullying, cases should be filed against the owner of the pages and accounts to teach them a lesson.

“Maybe it would be better if they look into these pages to see if cyberbullying is involved so that online trolls will be given a lesson,” Robredo said during her weekly radio show, “BISErbisyong LENI,” aired over on AM station RMN-DZXL 558.

Robredo acknowledged, however, that Facebook’s help would be necessary to gather enough evidence against the pages and account holders.

On Friday, Facebook Cybersecurity Policy head Nathaniel Gleicher said that 67 Facebook pages, 68 accounts, 40 groups, and 25 Instagram accounts had been banned from the social media platform.

Gleicher said these accounts operated under a network linked to President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications strategist Nicanor Gabunada Jr.

“This is saddening. For the past three years, we knew this was happening. The announcement on Friday was the confirmation,” Robredo said.

The radio show’s guest, human rights lawyer and senatorial candidate Chel Diokno, also underscored the negative effects of the prevalence of online trolls.

“Facebook’s announcement made me realize the extent and the effect of these pages, especially to the youth, because it is easy to be fooled nowadays,” Diokno said.

“It is easy to be fooled by fake news, especially if there is a designed system. I do not know their motivation behind this since these things do not bring any good,” he added.

Robredo also called for online users to report accounts and pages that propagate fake news. /atm