Photo credit: Congress PH

Lawmakers are stepping up their fight against fake news! Today, the House of Representatives held a joint hearing to tackle the widespread posting of false and malicious content on social media. The Committees on Public Order and Safety, Public Information, and Information and Communications Technology—chaired by Reps. Dan Fernandez, Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II, and Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, respectively—joined forces to explore ways to combat online disinformation while safeguarding freedom of speech.

The Goal: Striking a Balance Between Freedom and Accountability

In his opening remarks, Sta. Rosa City Rep. Fernandez stressed the importance of meaningful discussions on online safety and digital literacy. “We need to establish policies that not only protect users from disinformation but also ensure a well-informed and responsible digital community,” he said.

Committee on ICT Vice Chair Johnny Ty Pimentel, who co-presided on behalf of Rep. Tiangco, echoed this sentiment. He emphasized that the goal isn’t just to stop fake news but to create an environment where digital citizenship thrives—where people engage in informed, responsible discussions online.

Meanwhile, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers made it clear that the inquiry is not about suppressing free speech. “We’re not here to take away anyone’s right to express themselves. But we do need to draw the line between responsible discourse and the abuse of digital platforms to spread lies, destroy reputations, and manipulate public perception,” he explained.

Who Showed Up—and Who Didn’t

One of the key moments in the hearing? The turnout—or lack thereof. The committee invited 40 social media personalities to join the discussion, but only three actually showed up. Despite this, lawmakers pressed forward with their discussions, joined by government officials and media experts.

Among those present were DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), and fact-checker Ellen Tordesillas from VERA Files. Experts from the academe, including Dr. Enrico Basilio and Dr. Rachel Khan, also shared their insights on combating disinformation and improving digital media policies.

What’s Next?

The inquiry aims to identify weaknesses in existing laws and propose solutions to ensure that the public has access to accurate and reliable information. Rep. Joboy Aquino encouraged participants to actively engage in the discussions, reminding them that freedom of speech should always be exercised with diligence and integrity.

As the conversation around fake news and digital safety continues, lawmakers are expected to explore policy changes that strike the right balance—protecting the public from disinformation without compromising their right to express their views online.