MANILA — The government is pressing Meta to strengthen safeguards against fake accounts, abusive users and dangerous content on Facebook, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) warning that blocking the social media platform remains an option only if regulatory measures fail.
DICT secretary Henry Aguda said Wednesday that a nationwide Facebook ban is not the government’s immediate course of action, stressing that authorities would exhaust other measures to compel Meta to better protect Filipino users, particularly children, from online threats and abuse.
Aguda said the government wants Meta to respond more effectively to regulatory requests and improve its mechanisms for identifying users behind fake and troll accounts.
He cited the government’s previous dealings with TikTok as proof that regulatory pressure could lead to greater compliance without immediately resorting to blocking an entire social media platform.
Among the DICT’s concerns is the difficulty of establishing the identities of individuals operating fraudulent or anonymous accounts that are used to harass, threaten or abuse other users.
Aguda said stronger identity verification mechanisms could help law enforcement authorities trace people using fake accounts for illegal or abusive activities.
The DICT is also seeking faster action from Meta in removing dangerous content.
Aguda cited livestreamed footage of shooting incidents that remained accessible before eventually being removed, saying potentially harmful material should be taken down more quickly.
He also raised concern over Meta’s lack of a local office in the Philippines, which complicates government efforts to directly engage the company on regulatory and online safety issues.
The renewed scrutiny of social media platforms follows the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, which has prompted government officials to examine the possible role of online platforms in violence and other harmful behavior.
Malacañang earlier said it would not immediately rule out proposals to ban social media platforms if studies establish a connection between their use and violent or harmful behavior.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration could consider such a drastic measure if studies show it is necessary.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center had also raised the possibility of restricting Facebook access in the Philippines following the school shooting.
Aguda, however, maintained that shutting down Facebook would be a last resort, with the government instead focusing on securing stronger cooperation and compliance from Meta through existing regulatory mechanisms.
For now, the DICT’s position effectively puts the burden on Meta to address the government’s concerns before authorities are forced to consider more drastic action against one of the country’s most widely used social media platforms./PN
