MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan called on Congress to probe the China-based fake Facebook accounts that were supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte as well as presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, saying these accounts could be used to “influence elections in the Philippines.”
“It is important to get to the bottom of these issues to ascertain the facts behind the possible abuse of social media platforms such as Facebook to unduly influence elections in the Philippines and the use of public funds for such activities, as well as the use of government resources to foment lies and incite harm on government critics,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in a statement on Saturday.
“If these issues remain unaddressed and if such acts continue, serious questions on the credibility of the 2022 elections will hound this supposed democratic exercise,” Palabay added.
Social media giant Facebook last week took down several fake Facebook accounts and pages for “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” Some of the pages and accounts that were taken down expressed support for Duterte and the possible 2022 presidential bid of Duterte-Carpio.