INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday said he will meet Facebook executives to discuss the takedown of some PH-based FB pages and accounts without prior consultation and due notice.
Scheduled next week, the meeting according to Año, is all about how Facebook uses content-based restrictions as he expected the two sides to come up with solutions on how social media can help the government fight fake news and disinformation.
Earlier, Malacañang accused the social media giant of censorship while a senator has filed a resolution to investigate the removal of social media accounts.
Facebook has confirmed taking down some PH-based accounts for showing “coordinated inauthentic behavior.”
The DILG chief pointed out during a webinar last Wednesday how criminals and extremist groups have taken advantage of the pandemic to sabotage the delivery of government services.
“These groups are using social media to spread fake news and their malicious agenda,” he stressed.
A victim of fake news himself, Año said that he was subjected to public ridicule.
“Sa panahon ngayon marami ang nami-misquote dahil may mga gumagawa ng fake news,” he added.
A case has been filed against two individuals who were purveyors of the fake news about the DILG secretary that circulated on Facebook recently.
He cited the need for a well-defined communication strategy. He said this is critical because information has the capacity to boost the morale of the institution while fake news can bring down its credibility.
