Lawmakers want creation of troll farms criminalized

MANILA, Philippines — Two House lawmakers have jointly filed a draft measure that seeks to criminalize the establishment of troll farms and the conduct of disinformation campaigns targeting political candidates during elections.

Davao Oriental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario and PBA party list Rep. Margarita Nograles-Almario filed House Bill No. 11178, or the proposed Anti-Troll Farm and Elections Disinformation Act, to protect the sanctity of the elections and promote truth and transparency in the democratic process.

“Troll farms are not just digital pranks. They are systematic tools designed to deceive voters and distort democracy,” Nograles-Almario said.

READ: Pogos behind trolls, House probers claim

“This bill is our commitment to ensuring that the voice of the Filipino people remains genuine and untainted by lies,” she added.

HB 11178 would penalize violators with fines ranging from P500,000 to P10 million and a jail term of six to 12 years. Political candidates who knowingly benefited from the disinformation activities also face possible disqualification.

The draft measure would also hold online platforms accountable for failure to remove disinformation, subjecting them to significant fines.

Restoring trust

“This is about restoring trust in our democratic institutions,” Almario said.

“Technology should be a force for empowerment, not manipulation. House Bill 11178 is a proactive step to ensure that innovation strengthens, rather than weakens, our democracy,” he added.

The bill tasks the Commission on Elections to work with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to monitor and investigate troll farms.

It also mandates the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Department of Information and Communications Technology to promote voter awareness and critical thinking online.