Senator Grace Poe said that “bloggers are not above label laws and should be held liable if they spread fake news” on Tuesday, January 30.
The senate committee on public information and mass media which is led by Sen. Poe had the second public hearing on the proliferation of fake news.
“In our last hearing, some bloggers claimed that their posts were personal expressions or mere opinions and are therefore not subject to a journalist’s code of ethics. In my view, bloggers are not above libel laws,” Poe said in her opening statement during the hearing.
“If a blogger passes on information that he claims are facts, but which later turn out to be false, we should be able to hold him or her accountable,” she added.
Poe said that she supports a person’s right to freedom of expression, but if a writer “defames” or mars the reputation of someone through his/her articles, then said writer “must be held liable in accordance with our laws.”
“You cannot just attack a person without basis, and then hide behind the skirt of free expression. I think one must have the courage to stand by what he has written and posted publicly,” the senator said.
Poe also stressed on the government’s role in stopping the spreading of fake news and false information to the public.
“Government regulation that borders on intimidation and harassment of journalists is another means of suppressing the truth,” she said. “Let us remember, the Constitution gives the people the right to information and protects freedom of the press.”
“Ito na ba ang kinahinatnan ng bayan natin ngayon? Hostage ng disinformation? Are we now in a permanent state of civil cyberwar, the kind which gives no quarter to other ideas, and is intolerant of other views?” the senator questioned.
Poe also said that there is a proposal to control the proliferation of fake news with the help of the law, however, the Congress “cannot legislate thought control.”
