House probe on fake news not meant to gag free speech – Barbers

Tri-comm probe on fake news online not meant to gag free speech – Barbers

/ 12:01 PM February 04, 2025

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Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Barbers (Photo taken on April 30, 2018 by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives investigation of the alleged disinformation and misinformation being propagated on social media is not meant to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate dissent.

This view was expressed by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Tuesday.

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During his opening speech at the tri-committee’s first hearing, Barbers said there is a need to “draw the line” between the exercise of free speech and a systemic spread of misinformation.

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“We are gathered here today not to silence voices, suppress free speech, or curtail the constitutional right to freedom of expression,” he stressed.

“Instead, we are here to draw the line between responsible discourse and the deliberate, systematic abuse of digital platforms to spread lies, destroy reputations, and manipulate public perception,” he noted.

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The tri-committee is composed of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, the Committee on Public Information, and the Committee on Information and Communication Technology.

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It has been tasked to probe the spread of disinformation online after several resolutions were filed and with the delivery of privilege speeches about the matter.

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READ: 40 socmed users, platform reps invited to House fake news probe 

Barbers was one of the lawmakers who delivered a privilege speech, after different fake rumors spread about him and the other chairpersons of the House quad committee.

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False information circulated as the committee was probing illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators, the illicit drug trade, and extrajudicial killings in the past administration’s drug war.

READ: ‘Fighting drugs since 1995’: Barbers laughs off ‘drug lord’ rumors 

According to Barbers, there may be a need to establish a regulatory framework for social media use, just like how mainstream media organizations and legitimate news outlets adhere to a set of ethical standards.

The lawmaker said there is no robust fact-checking method or oversight function covering content producers on social media.

“This hearing seeks to establish a regulatory framework for social media, similar to how the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas regulates television and radio broadcasters; and how the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines upholds ethical standards for print media,” Barbers told House members.

“Our goal is to develop a code of conduct for content creators, ensuring accountability and ethical responsibility in this rapidly evolving digital space,” he added.

“While we uphold the constitutional right to freedom of speech, we must also recognize the urgent need for regulation to prevent the misuse of digital platforms,” he emphasized.

“The lack of oversight has allowed vloggers and online influencers to freely spread harmful narratives without fact-checking or ethical accountability,” he lamented.

“To address this, social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook must be treated as legitimate businesses requiring a franchise or accreditation system,” he proposed.

Barbers also noted that despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, “Filipinos remain vulnerable to online deception, harassment and digital attacks that threaten, not only individual lives, but also the integrity of our democracy.”

According to the legislator, none of the vloggers who attacked them have spoken up against China’s aggressive actions over the West Philippine Sea — bolstering their fears that foreign funding may be involved.

“The reality is that these networks of trolls are not simply expressing opinions. They are engaged in a well-orchestrated, well-funded campaign to spread disinformation, manipulate public perception, and destabilize institutions,” he said.

“The sources of funding for these operations remain in the shadows — possibly linked to illicit activities such as Pogo operations or criminal syndicates,” the lawmaker observed.

“These financial resources are weaponized to create chaos, erode trust in government, undermine the media, and weaken our democratic foundations,” he said.

“Ironically but not surprisingly, none of these actors speak out against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, proving our suspicion of illegal foreign funding,” he remarked.

Filipinos have long been considered to be one of the — if not the most — prevalent social media and internet users across the globe.

A Digital 2022 report from social media management firm Hootsuite and creative agency We Are Social said Filipinos ranked second on the list of countries whose citizens spend the most time on the internet and social media.

Filipinos spend an average of 6 hours and 58 minutes per day.

Heavy social media use means that Filipinos are susceptible to misinformation and disinformation.

In May 2024, lawmakers urged the public to exercise discretion amid the spread of videos where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s voice was being mimicked to announce that the Philippines was getting ready for war against China.

READ: ‘Deepfake’: PCO disowns clip of Marcos ‘attack order’ vs 

Videos uploaded by a certain “Dapat Balita” page on YouTube — and then reuploaded to other social media sites — claim that the Philippines under Marcos is already on a war footing against China.

The video shows different clips supposedly taken from the West Philippine Sea (WPS), overlaid by Marcos’ fake voice, which talks about fighting the Chinese if they do not give up claims to the disputed region.

PCO disowns the video, saying that the clip has been made to sound like the President — stressing that Marcos has not made such an order to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

READ: Palace debunks viral deepfake video of President 

In 2022, a Pulse Asia survey revealed at least 86 percent of Filipinos believe that the proliferation of ‘fake news’ is a problem in the country.

Only 14 percent of respondents said that they think this issue is not a predicament.

A separate survey by Social Weather Stations in February 2022 also showed that 70 percent of Filipinos think fake news proliferation is a serious problem.

During the 2022 national elections, several observers and fact-checkers claimed that there was an increase in the proliferation of ‘fake news’ targeting several candidates.

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READ: Fact-checkers call preelection fake news a ‘firehose of falsehoods’ 

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