The Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed support for the government’s call on Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, to impose stricter regulations aimed at curbing fake news and disinformation online.
PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that while Facebook and other digital platforms already have rules in place, these measures are often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of false information circulating daily.
Drawing from the PNP’s experience in handling cybercrime cases, Nartatez noted that some content creators deliberately fabricate and spread malicious information under the guise of legitimate news.
“There is no absolute freedom of expression. It always comes with a responsibility anchored on the basic rule that one must not step on the rights of others. And once this responsibility is ignored, the rule of law must be observed,” he said.
He added that tighter monitoring and regulation by social media companies would be “one big step to effectively address this problem.”
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) earlier gave Meta Platforms Inc. 48 hours to acknowledge their letter and seven days to implement detailed measures against disinformation.
Nartatez recalled past incidents where fake news disrupted peace and order, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when false information spread online caused panic and alarm. He also cited disinformation related to flood control during protest actions last year, as well as the surge of fake news during election periods.
More recently, Facebook has been flagged as a primary platform for spreading false claims about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s health and even his existence.
Despite these challenges, Nartatez emphasized that the PNP will continue its mandate of monitoring cyberspace and taking police action to ensure safety for all netizens.