AT the recent hearing of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on “fake news” chaired by Sen. Grace Poe, all bloggers, journalists and mainstream media were unified in their view that instead of crafting a new law, enforcement should be strengthened and supported but balanced by the need to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech and free expression.
Senate Bill (SB) 1492 introduced by Sen. Joel Villanueva seeks to penalize any person who maliciously offers, publishes, distributes, circulates and spreads false news or information or causes the publication, distribution, circulation or spreading of the same in print, broadcast or online media. To be covered under this Act, such false news or information must cause or tend to cause panic, division, chaos, violence, hate or must exhibit or tend to exhibit a propaganda to blacken or discredit one’s reputation. In addition, the person doing any of the foregoing acts must have full knowledge that such news or information is false, or have reasonable grounds to believe that the same is false. Any person who will be found guilty of committing any of the foregoing acts will be punished by a fine ranging from P100,000 to P5 million and imprisonment ranging from one year to five years. Stiffer penalties will be imposed if the offender is a public official.
In addition, SB 1492 proposes to penalize any mass-media enterprise or social-media platform that fails, neglects or refuses to remove false news or information within a reasonable period after having knowledge, or having reasonable grounds to believe, of its falsity. Violators will be punished by a fine ranging from P10 million to P20 million and imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years. If the offender is a corporation, the president, chief executive officer and other responsible officers will suffer the penalty of imprisonment.
As aptly pointed out by the invited resource persons at the Senate Hearing, SB 1492 is too broad and does not clearly define what is false/fake news. P.S. Res. 315 of Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes and PS Res. 271 of Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan both urge inquiry in aid of legislation, but likewise fail to define what is “fake, erroneous, distorted, fabricated or misleading news and false information.”
It would be overly optimistic for the Senate to aim to define what is fake news, especially since these days we can hardly define what is the truth—the lines have been blurred not only by traditional/social media but also the government, which has been accused as being the greatest enabler of manufactured information.
Many definitions have been offered. What I find useful as a guideline is John Nery’s (@jnery_newstand) 3D formula—“It is a deliberate act of fabrication and manipulation; disguised to look, sound, feel like the news, designed to deceive.” Clarissa David, professor of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications, makes a useful distinction between “disinformation” and “misinformation.” “Disinformation is designed to mislead, it is a purposely spread in a strategic way to persuade. Misinformation, on the other hand, is fueled by ignorance, not malice” (Rappler.com, January 26, 2018). But as aptly pointed out by Prof. David, “at the source and initial spread, it is disinformation, but the wider it spreads, the sharing is no longer intentional. It is people genuinely believing they are spreading the truth.”
And then, of course, there is fake news and there is opinion. What may be recklessly dubbed as fake news may be legally defensible as an “opinion,” which opens a whole new can of worms.
But that is only my opinion. And I may disagree with others’ opinion, but I will certainly defend ones right to say (or publish) it.
5 comments
Sang-ayon ako sa sinasabe ni Senadora Grace na dapat yung accountability ng nagpapakalat ng fake news eh dapat dun sa nagpost nito. Hirap kasi sa mga bloggers at propagandista masyadong ginamit ang salitang ‘Freedom of Speech’ kahit na wala naman na sa lugar ung mga pinapakalat nilang balita.
Halata namang nagmamalaki mga propagandista, lalo na si Mochacha na hindi nya daw titigilan ung page sa fb kahit na numero uno itong nagpapakalat ng fake news. Mas mainam na may parusa ang mga ganyan ng hindi na maulit pa. Kaya Sen. Grace dapat mas maging mapanuri po kayo sa pagpapatupad ng batas upang sa ganun magkaron naman po ng hustisya ang taong bayan.
Hirap sa mga propagandista na kaalyado si Digong akala mo pamilya sila ng presidente kung makaasta. Kaya nga may sense ang pagpapatawag ni Sen. Poe ng hearing about fake news. Dahil mas nakiclear kung tama ba talaga pinaggagagawa ng mga propagandista at bloggers.
Atty. Kapunan I see your point, pero mas maganda siguro kung maparusahan ang mga nagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon. Sakit na kasi yan na habang tumatagal mas lalong naggiging kumplikado. Gasgas na po ang dahilan na “freedom of speech” kung may mga personalidad naman na nagiging masama sa iba tao. Dapat talaga pag-usapan yan ng maayos sa Senado. Kung hindi pa hilingin ni Senator Poe yang pagdinig, sigurado marame ng nagpatayan dahil sa maling balita na pinapakalat ng mga bloggers/propagandists.
Ikulong ang may mga sala sa bayan! Ang pagpapaikot at pagmamaniobra sa mga pag-iisip ng mg apilipino sa pamamagitan ng maling pagbabalita, ay malala pa sa isang kriminal! Kahit saan yang tingnang anggulo, tiyak marameng maggagantihan dahil sa maling impormasyon na kinakalat. Hinihiling ko kay Sen. Grace na sana tuluyan ng matuldukan yang fake news issue at maparusahan ang mga may sala.