Social media giant Meta is set to establish an office in the country to improve coordination with authorities in addressing threats and harmful content online.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag revealed this over the weekend following his return from Singapore, where he and other government officials met with representatives of Meta.
“Well unang-una nagpapasalamat ako kay (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda at sa CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) kay Usec Aboy Paraiso, na kasama namin ang NBI, members of the House of Representatives, and representatives from the Senate, at ang National Telecommunications Commission kung saan nagkaroon kami ng pagpupulong with Meta,” Matibag said.
He said the meeting focused on improving information and data sharing with Meta to help authorities address “nihilistic violence,” particularly threats similar to the incidents in Tacloban and Zamboanga.
“Yung mga hinihiling natin para matugunan natin ang nagiging problema natin sa nihilistic violence na ito, ay bibigyan tayo ng information magkakaroon tayo ng sharing ng data,” Matibag said.
According to Matibag, the NBI has already been forwarding information from its monitoring operations to Meta concerning possible threats.
“As we speak now, meron na kaming binabato yung mga tuloy-tuloy na pumapasok sa monitoring namin na maaring banta yung paguulit sa nangyari sa Tacloban at tsaka sa Zamboanga,” he said.
He said Meta’s planned Philippine office would also facilitate faster communication between the company and authorities particularly on requests to take down threatening or harmful posts.
“So we have resolve na magkakaroon sila office dito kung saan ang aming communication duon na papasok, yung mga kailangan natin itake down kaagad na mga postings and all, ay gagawin nila,” Matibag said.
Matibag described the discussions as a positive development, saying the Philippine delegation was able to cover several concerns during the meeting.
“So madami, daming na cover duon so very positive tayo,” he said.
He also issued a warning to individuals who use cyberspace to commit wrongdoing, saying authorities would continue monitoring online activities.
“Ang message dito, hindi na puwede magtago yung mga gumagawa ng kalokohan sa cyberspace. Hindi na puwede magtago,” Matibag said.#