PCO eyes social media regulatory body to combat fake news

DAVAO CITY—The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is considering establishing a social media regulatory body to monitor and evaluate online content in an effort to curb the spread of fake news.

In a media interview on Monday, PCO Acting Secretary Jay Ruiz confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the potential creation of such a body.

“Pinag-aaralan natin ‘yan na sana magkaroon kahit papaano, lalo na sa mabibigat na issues (We are studying the possibility of creating a social media regulatory body, especially when it comes to sensitive issues). As I’ve said, a lie told a thousand times trounces the truth,” Ruiz told reporters at Malacañang.

Ruiz compared the proposed regulation of social media to existing oversight mechanisms in traditional media, citing the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) as an example of how films and television content are regulated.

He emphasized that the government’s primary goal is to combat fake news and disinformation, particularly when such content threatens national security.

“Ang punto lang dito, kung vlogger ka o social media influencer, dapat tanggap mo ang responsibilidad mo sa publiko (The point is, if you’re a vlogger or a social media influencer, you should take responsibility for the information you share with the public),” he added.