Social media franchising? Palace says further study needed

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In connection with recent school shootings that are believed to have been caused by online influences, Palace saw merit in the proposed measure to require social media platforms to be licensed before they could operate in the Philippines but maintained that further studies are required.

In a press briefing in Ilocos Norte, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. found it hard to understand how the South Cotabato school shooter could open fire on his schoolmates.

The Banga National High School shooting led to three deaths—including the shooter himself.

Asked about a House Bill No. 4786 or a proposed measure mandating social media platforms to have a legislative franchise, Castro said that the measure needed further review.

“Sa panukalang iyan patungkol sa pagpapalagay o kinakailangan ng prangkisa ng mga social media platforms, magandang panukala pero dapat aralin kung ano ang maaaring maidulot nito – maaaring may positibo, maaaring may negatibo, maaaring may maaapektuhang mga negosyo, maaaring may maapektuhan ibang mga tao na gumagamit ng mga social media platforms na ito,” Castro said.

(That measure that mandates a franchise for social media platforms, it is a good measure but it needs to be studied because of what it could entail — it could be positive, it could be negative, there could be businesses affected, there could be some social media users who are affected.)

Castro said this after the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) garnered criticism for banning Discord.

The CICC had issued an ultimatum to the social media platform, compelling it to designate a country representative,

While she did not address the matter directly, Castro issued a warning against social media platforms that do not collaborate with the government.

“Kailangan na ring gamitin ang ‘strong political will’ ng Pangulo sa mga maaaring pasaway na social media platforms na hindi tumutulong sa pamahalaan para sugpuin ang ganitong karahasan,” Castro said.

(The President must use his ‘strong political will’ against possibly errant social media platforms that do not help the government to stop these types of violence.) –NB, GMA News