Manila, Philippines – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have called on technology company Meta to act against the spread of what they described as “false, misleading, and panic-inducing” content on its platforms.
In a joint letter dated 10 April, PCO acting Secretary Dave Gomez and DICT Secretary Henry Aguda urged Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg to implement stricter measures to address misinformation related to issues such as oil prices, economic conditions, and government actions.
The officials said the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation on Meta’s platforms “poses a direct and escalating threat to public order, economic confidence, and national security.”
“The Philippines is currently confronting heightened economic and public vulnerability driven by the ongoing global oil crisis. Rising fuel costs and increasing prices of essential goods have materially heightened public sensitivity to information related to economic stability and government response,” the letter read.
“In light of the foregoing, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, in coordination with the Presidential Communications Office, hereby requires Meta to immediately align with the Philippine Government on strengthened safeguards and response mechanisms,” they added.
Meanwhile, Gomez and Aguda also noted that the publication of false news that “may endanger public order, harm state interests, or incite disobedience to lawful authority” is punishable under existing laws.
They added that the spread of false information could lead to “public panic, artificial price distortions, or disruption in the supply of essential goods unduly contribute to reports of illegal acts of price manipulation punishable under Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, as amended, and other related statutes penalizing hoarding, profiteering, and market manipulation.”
In their letter, the officials called on Meta to strengthen its proactive detection and suppression of high-risk disinformation, expedite government flagging and takedown protocols, designate a senior-level round-the-clock coordination focal point, and establish escalation pathways and response timelines for high-risk content. They also urged the company to undertake regular transparency reporting on enforcement actions.
“To ensure timely implementation, Meta is required to confirm receipt of this letter within 48 hours and to provide a detailed implementation plan of the measures outlined within seven calendar days from receipt of this letter,” the two officials said.
They added that the government may consider regulatory and legal measures should Meta fail to take prompt and sufficient action.
![[Featured Image] AI Visibility Forum 2026](https://marketech-apac.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Featured-Image-AI-Visibility-Forum-2026.png)
