House issues show cause orders vs PH offices of Facebook, TikTok

MANILA, Philippines — Show cause orders were issued against the representatives of two social media platforms previously invited to the House tri-committee’s hearing on Tuesday concerning the online spread of disinformation and fake news.

Before making the motion, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez moved to issue show-cause orders to ByteDance Philippines (for TikTok) and Facebook Philippines.

READ: House tri-comm sets second fake news hearing Feb. 18

“As the Comm Sec just informed me now to include po in the motion the specific person. So for ByteDance, Philippines, that is Ms. Peachy Paderna. And for Meta platforms or in the case of Facebook Philippines, this is Mr. Genixon David,” Gutierrez said.

Before this, the lawmaker said that the panel received a letter from White and Case on behalf of Meta, saying that Facebook Philippines was not authorized to receive the invitation.

“Just for the information of the body, we received the committees in receipt of a letter from Counsel from the US, stating that Meta cannot be invited,” Gutierrez said.

He noted Google Philippines’ participation, although it is part of an international entity.

“Although Google and Alphabet are international, Google Philippines chose to appear. So I think, Mr. Chair, this would not stand as a reason for Facebook Philippines not to attend,” Gutierrez stressed.

Moreover, he also mentioned ByteDance’s “no-show.” ByteDance is the owner of TikTok, it also sent a letter to the panel citing an unsubstantiated engagement in Singapore as the reason for non-attendance.

“They’ve sent a letter to the committee stating that they could not appear due to an engagement in Singapore. Unfortunately, the engagement was not substantiated,” he said.