By Lane Afable, News Editor
The Philippine government has required Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, to implement stricter measures to curb the spread of false and panic-inducing content on its platforms, warning of possible legal action if the company fails to act swiftly.
In a joint communication to Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Platforms, Inc. chief executive officer dated April 10, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) warned that the continued circulation of disinformation violates provisions under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, posing risks to public order, economic stability, and national security.
“To ensure timely implementation, Meta is required to confirm receipt of this letter within 48 hours and to provide a detailed implementation plan of the measures outlined within seven calendar days from receipt of this letter,” stated the joint letter dated April 10, signed by DICT Secretary Henry Aguda and PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez.
“Failure to take prompt and sufficient action shall constrain the Philippine Government to consider appropriate regulatory and legal measures, in coordination with the National Telecommunications Commission, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, and the Department of Justice, consistent with applicable laws and the State’s duty to protect public order and national security,” the letter added.
The communication stated that the Philippines is currently facing heightened economic and public vulnerability due to the ongoing global oil crisis.
“Rising fuel costs and increasing prices of essential goods have materially heightened public sensitivity to information related to economic stability and government response,” the DICT and PCO letter noted.
“In this environment, the rapid proliferation of false, misleading, and panic-inducing content—particularly those relating to oil prices, economic disruptions, and government actions—poses a direct and escalating threat to public order, economic confidence, and national security.”
The letter added, “The scale and velocity of such content on Meta’s platforms significantly amplify these risks.”
“We note that commission of such criminal acts falls within the ambit of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, particularly where these are committed through digital platforms or involve aiding or abetting cyber-related offenses,” the letter stated.
The government identified several categories of harmful content still circulating online, including:
• Fabricated medical status documents or announcements falsely alleging illness, incapacity, or death of senior government officials, particularly the President of the Philippines;
• False or misleading advisories (e.g., exaggerated oil price increases, alleged energy supply disruptions, or lockdowns) capable of inducing panic and economic disorder;
• Disinformation targeting financial institutions and payment systems that may undermine public trust;
• Misleading or fabricated pronouncements relating to law enforcement or military operations;
• Narratives encouraging non-compliance with lawful government directives based on false premises; and,
• Coordinated inauthentic behavior targeting the government and its officials.
The persistence of these content categories demonstrates that existing safeguards are not commensurate with the current level of public risk.
The letter also pointed out that the malicious spread of false news that results in public panic, artificial price distortions, or disruption in the supply of essential goods unduly contributes to reports of illegal acts of price manipulation punishable under Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, as amended, and other related statutes penalizing hoarding, profiteering, and market manipulation.
“In light of the foregoing, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in coordination with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), hereby requires Meta to immediately align with the Philippine Government on strengthened safeguards and response mechanisms,” the DICT and PCO letter noted.
The government officials added that the Philippine government expects Meta to implement serious measures, including enhanced proactive detection and suppression systems for high-risk disinformation, such as coordinated inauthentic behavior, and an expedited government-flagging and takedown protocol, with priority handling for content affecting public safety, economic stability, and national security.
The letter also called for the designation of a senior-level, 24/7 coordination focal point to ensure real-time engagement on urgent cases, clearly defined escalation pathways, enforceable response timelines for high-risk content categories, and regular transparency reporting on enforcement actions taken re
