Malacañang recently joined forces with the country’s nine leading newspapers to combat fake news across digital and social media platforms, calling it a ‘poisonous’ venom.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez signed a memorandum of understanding with officials of nine broadsheets in a bid to “dismantle false narratives” but at the same time “rebuild public trust in credible sources.”
The newspapers include Business Mirror, Business World, Daily Tribune, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, The Manila Times, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, and The Philippine Star.
“Together we will enhance the spread of accurate, verified information to dismantle false narratives; rebuild and sustain public trust in credible sources; champion media literacy and critical thinking; and ensure swift responses to deceptive content,” Gomez said.
He likened fake news, disinformation, and misinformation to “venom that poisons the hearts and minds” of Filipinos, endangering public welfare and undermining freedoms and institutions.
“Fake news has become widespread, especially on social media, that many people are already believing it and being misled. It is time to put an end to this,” he added.
As part of its commitment under the MOU, the PCO has set up an Anti-Fake News Desk, a dedicated mechanism where its partners and the public can report suspicious or misleading content. Reports will be evaluated and referred to the appropriate government agencies, such as the Department of Communications Technology, and the Department of Justice, among others. They would also go after sources of fake news by working with platforms such as Meta and Google.
Gomez stresses that the MOU should not be construed as a way to repress the media or prevent it from fulfilling its watchdog role in society.
If our government and print media can work together to find ways to combat the proliferation of fake news across digital and social media platforms, achieving it without placing unnecessary restrictions on genuine press freedom, the benefit to the public would be immeasurable. The quicker Filipinos can be protected from all the misinformation and disinformation that is constantly floating around, the better choices they can make when it comes to facing the important questions and choices that often decide our nation’s future.*
