The Anti-False Content Bill or Anti-Fake News Bill seeks to prohibit the publication and proliferation of false content on the internet. This will provide measures to counteract the effects it has and will prescribe penalties for these acts.
As Senate Bill No. 9 will be penalizing violators up to 2 million pesos fine or imprisonment, Sotto shares why he filed this bill: “False information continues to circulate and is becoming prevalent in the internet globally.”
“Filipinos have fallen prey to believing most of the click-baits, made up quotes attributed to prominent figures and digitally altered photos. This bill seeks to protect the public from the adverse effects of false and deceiving content online,” Sotto said.
Under this bill:
Violators will be charged with a fine of 200, 000 when providing or offering expertise in the creation or publication of false information.
Violators will be charged with a fine less than 300,000 and will face imprisonment when being found guilty of knowingly creating or publishing false information misleading the public.
Violators will be charged with a fine less than 500,000 and will face imprisonment when being found guilty of using a fake online account or website publishing false information.
Violators will be charged with a fine less than P 1 million and will face imprisonment when being found guilty of financing the creation or publication of online sites with false information.
Violators will be charged with a fine of P 2 million and will face imprisonment when being found guilty of refusing to take down the published false information, issuing corrections, or blocking of access to websites or social media platforms.
He mentioned that the aim of the bill is to promote the responsible use of the internet and the content shared online.
“This bill seeks to protect the public from the adverse effects of false and deceiving content online. It also seeks to promote the responsible use of the internet,” the Senator said in a statement.
(ALSO READ: List of Sotto’s Priority Bills Passed for 18th Congress)
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