Bill Seeks to Criminalize Malicious Fake News in the Philippines

A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives aiming to criminalize the spread of fake news, particularly content that threatens public order or national security.

House Bill No. 11506, filed by Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, targets deliberate and malicious disinformation across various media platforms. Rodriguez cited the increasing use of social media and artificial intelligence in spreading false information, calling it a threat to public trust, democratic institutions, and national stability.

Why it matters: The proposed legislation responds to the growing concern over coordinated disinformation campaigns, particularly those that use advanced technology like deepfakes or troll networks to mislead the public and stir unrest. While upholding the constitutional right to free speech, the bill seeks to define and penalize speech that crosses into harmful territory.

Rodriguez, a lawyer and former law school dean, emphasized that while the Constitution protects free expression, the Supreme Court has recognized limits—such as in cases involving obscenity, defamation, and speech that poses a clear danger to society. He argued that current laws, including the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, are not enough to address modern disinformation tactics.

The bill defines “fake news” as false or misleading information presented as fact and shared with malicious intent. It outlines several prohibited acts, including:

• Publishing or spreading fake news or disinformation through any medium;
• Creating or funding troll farms and coordinated bot networks;
• Sharing content that promotes hate speech, incites violence, or causes public panic;
• Enabling the use of social media platforms for systematic disinformation efforts.

Violators could face imprisonment ranging from six to 12 years and fines between PHP 500,000 and PHP 2 million.

The measure also proposes the formation of a joint congressional oversight committee that would include members of civil society and media organizations. This committee would be tasked with monitoring the law’s enforcement and ensuring transparency.

Rodriguez assured that the bill would not cover satire, parody, honest mistakes, or opinion pieces. He also noted that judicial safeguards and oversight mechanisms would be in place to prevent abuse.

“By balancing the need to protect free expression and the responsibility to guard against intentional harm, this measure seeks to affirm the principles of a modern democratic society,” he said.

What do you think about criminalizing the spread of fake news in the country?