Padilla seeks inter-agency approach vs spread of fake news

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MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla is pushing for an inter-agency approach against the spread of fake news.

“The spread of fake news through means such as social media, messaging mobile applications and SMS has considerably widened the social and political divide among Filipinos resulting in confusion, distrust and proliferation of hate speech,” Padilla noted in filing Senate Resolution 191.

“In the Philippines, no less than the Supreme Court recognizes that ‘although freedom of expression enjoys an exalted place in the hierarchy of constitutional rights… the exercise of the right is not absolute for it may be so regulated that it shall not be injurious to the equal enjoyment of others having equal rights, not injurious to the rights of the community or society,” he continued.

The neophyte senator’s resolution likewise calls for an investigation in aid of legislation on the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and related laws.

The Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, which Padilla chairs, is directed to lead the legislative inquiry.

“Pursuant to the police power of the State, Congress has the power to enact laws to regulate speech and restrict any form of expression that may convey false information within the bounds of the Constitution in order to curb the spread and abate the ill effects of ‘fake news,'” he said.

For Padilla, the news industry and educational institutions must do their part to combat fake news.

Citing a study, Padilla said that the global economy loses about $78 billion annually due to false information propagating in politics and the sectors of finance, public health, and business.

Earlier, however, Padilla got called out by the High School Philippine History Movement for saying that the De La Salle University (DLSU) was established by Spaniards.

The history group corrected Padilla’s claim and pointed out that DLSU was established by Americans.

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