Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers emphasized that the ongoing House Tri Committee (Tricomm) investigation into the spread of fake news and harmful content on social media platforms is not designed to stifle freedom of speech. Speaking at the commencement of the panel’s second hearing, Barbers clarified, “The purpose of these hearings is not to restrict freedom of expression or speech.” He stressed the importance of upholding the constitutional right to free speech, noting that the inquiry aims to respect everyone’s right to their own opinions and expressions, regardless of the topic at hand.
The inquiry was initiated following Barbers’ privilege speech on December 16 and a resolution by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. Barbers expressed a desire to implement best practices from other countries in managing social media platforms. He advocated for a policy or framework that would prevent the use of these platforms for spreading false information, disinformation, or misinformation.
Addressing vloggers who criticize members of Congress, Barbers stated that lawmakers are not bothered by such criticism but warned that spreading falsehoods online could lead to legal consequences under existing laws. He reminded everyone that the right to free speech, while constitutionally protected, is not absolute.
Antipolo City Representative Romeo Acop, who chaired the hearing in place of Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, explained that the inquiry’s goal is to ensure that any proposed legislation respects the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and expression while preventing censorship. The investigation also aims to identify legislative gaps, review current laws like the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and enhance the transparency and accountability of social media platforms. Acop highlighted plans to propose public awareness campaigns and involve stakeholders such as social media organizations, cybersecurity experts, civil society groups, and constitutionalists to address harmful content effectively.
Acop also mentioned that the committee is interested in hearing Google’s proposal for a content creator framework and the Department of Justice’s stance on the duality of crime doctrine. Additionally, the panel plans to further explore the concept of cyber-libel as a continuing crime.