In the Philippines, there are multiple ideas on how to stop the spread of fake news. Two popular ideas on the internet are: (1) creating a registry of content creators, and (2) having the government control social media companies. Let's look at these ideas, and propose one to help limit the spread of fake news in the country.
Content CreatorRegistry
First, what makes someone a content creator? If just having a certain number of subscribers or followers makes one a content creator, then that's silly. The number of subscribers doesn't really tell us how many people are seeing a content creator's posts. A blogger with their own blog can have millions of readers without any subscribers. And anyone with an internet connection could be a content creator, so when would they need to register? I wonder how the government defines a content creator.
Speaking of a registry, which agency would be in charge? Will it be like the SIM card registry, where people can't change or delete their records? And not only that, this registry could be easily tricked like the SIM card registry!
In short, this is not a good idea.
Reigning in Social Media Companies
The Philippine Congress invited social media companies to several hearings ("in aid of legislation") not too long ago, but they shouldn't trust these companies. These companies always say the same thing when asked about being accountable and responsible, but they don't really mean it. Search for videos of hearings in the US and EU, and you will see the pattern.
How will the Philippine government plan to control companies like Meta, Alphabet, and TikTok? Will these companies follow the rules? They're very powerful, so I don't know. These companies are based in the US and China, what is the Philippines to them, right? Do they follow Philippine laws, like do they make sure that the money they pay to Filipinos living in the Philippines is taxed here? I hope so, because if not, then they clearly don't care about Philippine laws, right?
An Unsolicited Idea
The Philippine government can take action against fake news on social media without needing both the Senate and House to pass a net neutrality law (I have written about how a net neutrality law can help curb the spread of fake news not too long ago). The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) could set up an official government social media platform, maybe a Mastodon instance, and make sure all government agencies, including state universities and colleges, post content there.
Instead of YouTube, the DICT could create a PeerTube instance to host official videos from government agencies, state universities, and colleges too.
The other two branches of government can do the same, of course.
This idea gives the Philippine government the power to reduce, if not get rid of, their reliance on foreign social media companies.
And here's the best part: mobile telecom companies need to give the same data plans to these government social media platforms as they do to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other foreign platforms. I think the DICT, especially with the new secretary, can make it happen. This will make sure Filipinos have equal access to reliable sources of news, and not a lopsided one where foreign social media companies have an advantage.
In my opinion, it's time for DICT, under Secretary Aguda, to step up and tackle fake news, not wait for the Philippine Congress and Senate to pass laws. What say you, Secretary Aguda?
