Facebook issues statement on reports about users getting tagged in suspicious adult content posts

Facebook issued a statement after reports that users were being tagged in comment sections of posts that appear to have adult and inappropriate content. 

In a statement sent to GMA News Online via text on Wednesday, a Facebook Company Spokesperson said they are "continuing to investigate the reports, however, have not found evidence that specific individuals are being targeted."

They also gave advice on what to do, encouraging users "not to open any suspicious links or messages."

They said "to use our reporting tools if they see any suspicious activity or content that violates our Community Standards."

According to Facebook Help Center, users can report anything that goes against their Community Standards, which includes "nudity, hate speech, and violence."

To report a post, users can (1) go to the post you want to report, (2) Click the three dotted icon on the top right of the post, and (3) Find support or report post.

The FB Help Center also said that they "take things down from Facebook if they go against our Community Standards."

If the reported content continues to be published, FB advised that "you can still use your settings and preferences tools to control your experience on Facebook."

Meanwhile, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Wednesday assured social media users that mechanisms are in place to report inappropriate and uncalled-for content on social media.

“Kung kayo po ay may reklamo tulad niyan at may nailalathala na hindi dapat, meron hong mechanism for reporting ang Facebook,” said NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(If you have complaints and there are inappropriate posts, Facebook has a mechanism for reporting that.)

“Kung hindi maaksyunan kaagad, maari niyo pong sabihin sa amin at kukunin namin ang atensyon ng Facebook tungkol sa bagay na ito,” he said.

(If the complaint was not acted on immediately, you can report it to us and we will call the attention of Facebook regarding this matter.)

The Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) also warned Facebook users of the said inappropriate content spreading throughout the social media platform.

"When clicked, it will result in the automatic and random tagging in the same post of other Facebook account users,” the DOJ-OOC said in a statement.

“If you happen to get a notification tagging you in a post that contains a link to an apparent adult content, do not click any further and report the post.”

The DOJ-OOC said Facebook has confirmed that the page linked to the malicious tagging has already been removed. Its administrators have also been sanctioned, the department added.

Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer data and systems through the introduction or transmission of viruses are punishable under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. — LA, GMA News