Amid recent incidents of school shootings, Malacañang is open to suggestions to ban certain social media platforms if studies show that these have harmful effects or contribute to violence.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro made the remarks in response to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center’s proposal to ban Facebook in the wake of the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University earlier this month.
“Kung kinakailangan po at ito po ay napag-aralan,” she said when asked about the suggestion.
The government is also concerned about the spread of fake news and possible harm from social media and other digital platforms.
“Kung hindi magkakaroon ng accountability ang anumang social media platform… Magandang pag-isipan at pag-aralan kung dapat silang manatili na parte ng ating sistema,” she said.
“Open po ang Pangulo na matanggal ang lahat ng ’yan,” Castro added.
She said the ban may include applications or other platforms that are found to pose risks to the youth.
“Maaaring gaming apps, lahat ng pwedeng masabing makakasira sa ating mga kabataan at sa bansa natin, open po ang Pangulo na matanggal ang lahat ng ’yan,” Castro said.
She went on to clarify that the government does not consider contrary opinions and criticism as fake news, and that the Palace is concerned about the spread of false information.
“Iba naman po kasi yung fake news, iba naman po kasi yung ikaw ay naglalahad lamang ng iyong opinyon, kritiko ka, hindi po ’yan pinagbabawalan,” Castro said.
She added: “Ang hindi lamang po natin matatanggap at lalong-lalo nang hindi matatanggap ng Pangulo ay ang paglaganap ng fake news.”