MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday said it is open to proposals requiring social media platforms to secure a congressional franchise, saying such a measure could give the government greater jurisdiction and authority over online platforms.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the proposal, being pushed at the House of Representatives by Quezon Rep. Jay-Jay Suarez, is also being discussed by the administration and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“Napag-uusapan din po iyan, at iyan din po ang nais ng DICT at iyan din po ang pinu-propose para hangga’t maaari ay magkaroon tayo ng jurisdiction at authority over these social media platforms (It is also being discussed, and that is also what DICT wants and is proposing, so that as much as possible we can have jurisdiction and authority over these social media platforms),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
Castro said the proposal would still have to be reviewed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. before the administration can take a position on specific versions of the measure.
“Definitely kapag nabasa po siguro ng Pangulo kung ano ang nilalaman ng mga version na iyan, kapag nakitang maganda at nakakabuti sa ating mga kababayan, hindi naman ito maghahadlang (Definitely, once the President has read the contents of the different versions, if he sees that they are good and beneficial to our countrymen, he would not oppose them),” she said.
The proposal comes as the government seeks stronger safeguards on social media, particularly against harmful and violent content affecting young people that many believe triggers the recent shooting incidents inside schools involving students.
Castro said the administration is also awaiting action from the social media giant on a proposed memorandum of understanding that would establish safety measures on its platforms, including measures to block violent content in messaging.
She said the government expects Meta to act more quickly on the request, noting that concerns over gaps in platform safeguards have been raised not only by the public but also by lawmakers.
Asked about possible penalties if Meta does not immediately comply, Castro said no specific consequence could yet be identified. (PNA)
