Another administration lawmaker questioned Facebook over censorship issues amid efforts by the social media giant to block suspected troll farms that are being blamed for the spread of fake news and disinformation in the Philippines, the world’s No. 1 social media user.
Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera has sought a dialogue with Facebook’s country manager in the Philippines as she chided the popular social media site for “unilaterally removing content it deemed inappropriate for its platform.”
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Herrera said “such practice tends to to undermine the freedom of expression that is guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution.”
Two week ago, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Michael Defensor filed House Resolution No. 2112 proposing a congressional inquiry into the alleged information censorship methods imposed by Facebook.
“Considering Facebook’s huge influence in our country’s moral, political, national security and also in securing private corporate interests, there is a need to clarify its Information Censorship Methods,” Defensor said in filing HR 2112.
Defensor received flak for this move as many social media users backed Facebook for taking serious efforts to block groups and individuals from using its platform to mislead and spread fake news.
“I fully agree with the need for ensuring our people are informed with the truth, especially in times of great uncertainty. However, I must heed the call of the people when they allege their freedoms of expression have been undermined and are uncertain as to the cause,” Herrera said in her letter to Facebook on Aug. 31, 2021.
The partylist solon claimed that she has received “numerous reports from her constituents that their posts have been unjustly and unceremoniously deleted despite the fact that such information is not fake news, nor libelous, and within the community guide ..
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