PNP: Spreading novel coronavirus ‘fake news’ online violate Anti-Cybercrime Law
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police on Thursday clarified that those who spread “fake news” online about the 2019-nCoV or novel coronavirus acute respiratory virus (2019-nCoV ARD) will be facing charges for violation of RA 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law.
This is after the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) earlier said that those who spread “fake news” on the nCoV threat could be charged for violating Presidential Decree 90 (Declaring Unlawful Rumor-Mongering and Spreading False Information). The PNP later said Presidential Decree 90 was repealed in 1986.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that instead of the repealed Presidential Decree 90, those who will be spreading “fake news” will be charged for “Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances” under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175, otherwise known as the Anti-Cybercrime Law.
“There remains an applicable law against spreading of fake news Thus, PNP urges social media users to exercise caution and avoid sharing unofficial, unvalidated and unverified reports or face arrest,” Banac said in a statement.
The statement came amid the spread of “fake news” about the 2019-nCoV. The PNP-ACG is currently validating six social media posts allegedly containing false information about the deadly respiratory virus.
