House eyes probe on fake, malicious social media posts

Seven officials of the House of Representatives are eyeing an investigation that will identify sources of fake news on social media platforms, with the aim of "safeguarding freedom of speech and ensuring digital safety."

- By DELON PORCALLA

Senior administration stalwarts, led by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., proposed that the investigation be conducted jointly by the House committees on public order and safety, information and communications technology and public information.

In their resolution adopted by the House, they stated that the "rapid growth of social media platforms has allowed the dissemination of content that can mislead the public, damage individual reputations, erode trust in institutions and disrupt public discourse."

"False and malicious content has also been exploited by unscrupulous individuals to promote scams, cyberbullying and other activities that negatively impact public safety and order," they said.

"The balance between ensuring digital safety and protecting constitutional freedoms, particularly freedom of speech and expression, must be maintained, as these are cornerstones of democracy," they added.