THE recent initiative of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Meta Philippines and advocacy group Digital Pinoys in taking down the social media pages of influencers found promoting illegal online gambling was commended by Senator Joel Villanueva, who happens to be a staunch advocate for a total ban on all forms of online gambling.
“This is a significant step forward in our campaign to push for a total ban on online gambling. Public figures have a huge responsibility, especially when it comes to promoting what is morally right,” Villanueva said.
The Senator emphasized that endorsements of online gambling should be covered under the morality clauses in the contracts of influencers and other public figures to discourage such promotions. He is the author of Senate Bill No. 47 or the Anti-Online Gambling Act, which seeks to prohibit all forms of online gambling operations in the country.
“Una po tayong nag-file noong 19th Congress. Sa mahabang panahon, para tayong nag iisang boses sa kawalan, kaya sa pagdami ng mga may panukalang itigil na ang online gambling at anumang uri ng sugal na lalong naglulugmok sa ating mga kababayan sa kahirapan at pagkawasak ng mga pamilya, atin pong pakatututukan ito ngayong 20th Congress,” Villanueva stated.
Meta reportedly took down around 20 influencer pages, some with hundreds of thousands to millions of followers, after receiving reports that they were actively promoting illegal online gambling content.
