Malacañang said there is no immediate plan to ban Facebook in the Philippines, as Meta continues to cooperate with government efforts to address harmful online content, misinformation, and violent posts.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro maintained that Facebook has been responsive to government requests to remove fake news and other problematic content, pushing officials to focus on stronger enforcement measures and clearer platform rules instead of an outright shutdown.
The discussion over a possible Facebook ban intensified following the circulation of graphic videos linked to recent school shooting incidents in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City. Authorities raised concerns over how violent footage from the attacks spread online and reached young users, prompting calls for stronger safeguards from social media platforms.
Castro explained that the administration remains open to stricter actions, including possible bans, if platforms fail to address content that may contribute to violence and misinformation.
“Hindi po nakikitaan sa ngayon ang Facebook na mahirap na kausapin, at hindi po ito ibig sabihin na kapag naman iyong iba na mga social media platforms ay hindi tumutugon, ay lahat naman po ay dapat na ma-ban. Hindi po iyon ang nais ng ating Pangulo at ng ating administrasyon,” she said.
The government’s concerns grew after the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting, where the attack was livestreamed online, while authorities also linked the broader discussion to the earlier shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban. Officials questioned the speed of content removal and the continued circulation of copies of violent footage even after takedown efforts began.
Castro added that the government is urging other platforms, particularly those facing concerns over their impact on young users, to improve safeguards and coordinate with authorities in addressing harmful content.
Department of Information and Communications Technology – DICT Secretary Henry Aguda is also expected to meet with regional executives of Meta to discuss ways to speed up the removal of violent and false posts online.
