Padilla pushes inter-agency approach vs fake news

MANILA, Philippines — To effectively fight fake news, Sen. Robinhood Padilla is pushing for an inter-agency approach that will prevent the abuse of the internet and other tools for information.

Padilla has filed Senate Resolution 191, seeking an investigation in aid of legislation to enhance the Cybercrime Prevention Act and related laws.

“No single government agency can fight effectively fake news,” he said.

“The spread of fake news through social media has considerably widened social and political division among Filipinos, resulting in confusion, distrust and proliferation of hate speech,” Padilla added.

The resolution proposes that the Senate committee on public information and mass media, which is chaired by Padilla, will undertake the legislative inquiry.

He said Congress has the power to enact laws to regulate speech and restrict any form of expression that may convey false information within the bounds of the Constitution to curb the spread of fake news.

Padilla noted that $78 billion is lost globally every year due to fake news on “financial, public health and business sectors.”