Article by:
Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Risa Hontiveros agreed with the idea of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to create a task force against disinformation.
Hontiveros, a reelectionist in the May 9 polls, said she herself was a victim of disinformation and fake news.
"Maliban sa task force, maganda din kung mapagaaralan ang best practices sa ibang bansa kung paano ito nilalabanan (Apart from a task force, it is also good to study the best practices of other countries on how they fight disinformation)," she said in a statement on Monday.
The task force, Hontiveros added, should be a multi-sectoral effort that includes the internet and social media platforms themselves, such as Facebook and YouTube.
Election Commissioner George Garcia, however, clarified in Laging Handa Briefing on Monday that he will try to convince the Comelec en banc to combat disinformation limited only in the entire electoral process.
"Yun pong fake news para sa mga kandidato, naku, napakadami po nun. Baka hindi na namin kayanin po yun. Kailangan talaga isang buong departamento ng pamahalaan yan (The fake news from our candidates are plenty. I doubt we can handle that. That may require an entire government department)," he said.
Garcia said it is up to the candidates how they would protect themselves from fake news.
This, after the Comelec, created the Task Force “Kontra Bigay” last week to investigate alleged vote-buying during this election period. (PNA)
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