MANILA — The Philippine government is studying the possibility of blocking Facebook nationwide if the social media platform fails to comply with local laws and cooperate with authorities, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said.
CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso said the government has the technical capability to restrict access to an entire social media platform, although such a drastic measure would require careful study because of its far-reaching social and political implications.
Speaking to DZMM Teleradyo over the weekend, Paraiso said authorities are examining stronger measures to compel social media companies operating in the Philippines to comply with government regulations and respond to legitimate requests from state agencies.
He said the government’s concerns are not limited to misinformation, as authorities are also looking at the protection of children from potential risks and harmful content on online platforms.
While acknowledging the potentially massive impact of blocking a platform such as Facebook on millions of Filipino users, Paraiso said a nationwide restriction remains among the options being examined should social media companies fail to meet Philippine requirements.
The CICC is also developing a broader regulatory framework that would impose clearer and stricter requirements on social media platforms operating in the country.
Paraiso cited the government’s previous engagement with Roblox as an example of how regulatory pressure could compel online platforms to cooperate with Philippine authorities.
According to him, the gaming platform eventually complied with guidelines sought by the government.
Paraiso stressed, however, that any move to impose a platform-wide restriction would still require further evaluation because of its potential consequences for users and the wider public./PN
