Controlling social media

Last week, there were two disturbing news stories. The first called on Congress to require social media platforms to obtain a congressional franchise. The second was the government's sudden and temporary ban of a popular platform, only to have it lifted within hours. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ordered the ban of messaging platform Discord, citing concerns about violent extremist ideologies and minor exploitation.

However, the CICC quickly apologized, admitting they had misunderstood the platform's purpose, believing it to be only a gaming platform.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, also faces serious threats from the government. Top officials from Meta have warned of potential legal action and a nationwide ban on Facebook if compliance fails. CICC Undersecretary Renato Paraiso has warned that a total nationwide geo-block of Facebook may be implemented if compliance is not achieved. The DICT's competence in digital technology is questioned, with fears that they may eventually establish a system similar to China's Great Firewall.

While acknowledging the need to protect children and national security, there are concerns about the impact of outright bans on personal freedom and legitimate business. Dr. Jose Ramon Albert, an academic at PIDS, pointed out the impracticality of such bans, as they often cut off legitimate users and can be easily bypassed using a VPN.

The threat against Meta, the owner of Facebook, is significant. With Facebook deeply ingrained in Philippine society, accounting for 94.9% of internet users, a ban would disrupt daily communication, commerce, and politics. Even though Meta brings in significant revenue from the Philippine market, it is a minor drop in the bucket for a company that generated $201 billion globally in 2025.

Meta has resisted similar actions in other countries, such as Australia and Canada, showing that it can threaten market withdrawal rather than agree to restrictive conditions.

Forcing social media companies to secure a congressional franchise is also concerning, as it could lead to heavy-handed censorship and infringement on free expression. The DICT needs to improve its digital technology competence, as demonstrated by the cumbersome e-Travel app for international passengers.