PCO chief Ruiz bats for EU-like Digital Services Act banning harmful online content

Presidential Communications Office chief Jay Ruiz on Friday called for the passage of a European Union-like Digital Services Act which will ban publication of harmful information online if the social media platforms refuse to self-regulate and take these down.

During the House panel hearing on the proliferation of false information online, Ruiz said social media platforms such as Meta, Tiktok and Youtube do not have a base in the Philippines so it takes time for them to act on complaints and requests against harmful posts.

"So we have to focus on the platforms, first of all, to self-regulate, if you [social media platforms] want self-regulation. Or maybe come up with an operational system between the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology), government to identify these fake posts, to identify fake information,” he said.

“What do we want on the PCO side? We urge Congress to join our digital crusade against combating fake news by strengthening our laws by introducing internationally accepted policies and standards for content moderation on social media. I respectfully encourage our  lawmakers to consider the framework of the Digital Services Act, a recently adopted EU regulation which prevents illegal and harmful activities, disinformation online while still ensuring that the freedom of expression is upheld,” he added.

Aside from fake news, Ruiz said the greater danger online is the emergence of deep fake content wherein a person's face and speaking voice can be easily placed on another person which would make spotting fake content or information difficult.

“There were several complaints raised with the PCO that said, 'Sir, look at this, there are known personalities recruiting on scams, advertising scams.' Because the voices of a well-known personality or a well-known businessman are being put on the line. Imagine if you put the head of the Commission on Elections chairman there which is [deep] fake too. It is a national security concern that we really have to fight,” he said.

“The fight against fake news should be prioritized. We said before, right, it was the fight against illegal drugs. But in this generation, the fight against fake news, deepfakes, they bring so many social media ills. We now live in two worlds: the cyber world and the real world. The children right now spend more time on the cyber world. And if you give them constant disinformation, if you give them constant lies and negative news, what will happen to the next generation of Filipinos?” he added.

Ruiz then said that technology should be used as a force of good.

“We have to make make sure that online, the voice of truth should be louder than lies. It should always be louder than lies. They should always be louder than lies. Because now, a lie told a thousand times drowns out the truth,” he said.

“I urge everybody here, let's get our acts together. We are not the enemies. We should stand together. The enemy is fake news,” he added.

Among the content creators who attended the inquiry include: Elizabeth Cruz, Ethel Pineda, Krizette Laureta Chu, Mark Anthony Lopez, MJ Quiambao Reyes, Dr. Richard Mata, Trixie Cruz Angeles, and Mark Gamboa.

Reyes, who posted a content alleging that some of the drug war deaths happened before or after the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte and many of the deaths are completely unrelated to drugs or extrajudicial killings, said she has always pushed for good governance and free speech.

"I am not pro or anti-Duterte, Marcos. I am pro-good governance," Reyes said.

Duterte is now detained in the Hague, Netherlands due to alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his administration's drug war and Davao Death Squad killings.—AOL, GMA Integrated News