DICT Rejects Meta’s Misinformation Plan, Threatens Stricter Regulations

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has expressed dissatisfaction with Meta’s proposed measures to combat online disinformation, warning that the Philippine government may pursue stronger regulatory enforcement if the tech giant fails to provide faster, measurable outcomes.

Key Details

In a public statement issued on April 20, 2026, the DICT acknowledged receiving a formal response from Meta regarding a joint government request for immediate action against harmful misinformation. The joint request by the DICT, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) was driven by concerns over public order and economic stability amidst an ongoing global oil crisis.

However, the DICT stated that the tech company’s response lacked the necessary urgency^.

“The interventions highlighted in their reply fall short of directly addressing the urgency of the situation and the specific, time-bound actions we have requested,” the DICT noted^{. The agency criticized Meta’s reliance on “general descriptions of existing policies,” declaring them insufficient to mitigate real-world harm caused by false and misleading information.}

The government’s criticism stems from an April 17 letter sent by Berni Moestafa, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Indonesia and the Philippines, addressed to DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda and PCO Acting Secretary Dave Gomez. In the letter, Moestafa outlined Meta’s global, risk-based approach to content moderation, known as the Remove, Reduce, and Inform (RRI) framework.

Meta defended its safety investments, noting that it has around 40,000 personnel working on security issues and has invested over $30 billion in safety technology over the past decade.

• The company emphasized its strict policies against Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior (CIB) to disrupt networks of deceptive accounts, alongside its reliance on independent third-party fact-checkers certified by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
• Furthermore, Meta highlighted its specific operational channels for the Philippines. “Compared to the rest of the world, the Philippines has the highest number of government agencies and institutions with direct access to our reporting channel,” Moestafa stated.
• The company also noted that it had recently hosted a “Meta Connect” training session on April 15 for around 1,200 government and civil society participants to improve reporting efficiency and coordination.

Demands for Concrete Action

Despite these established frameworks, the DICT is demanding more stringent, localized interventions. The agency stressed that while it firmly upholds freedom of expression, that freedom does not cover the deliberate spread of false information designed to trigger public panic or undermine institutions^.

“We need clear commitments, faster enforcement mechanisms, and measurable outcomes aligned with the risks we are facing today,” the DICT emphasized^.

To resolve the standoff, the DICT announced plans to hold a direct meeting with Meta to push for concrete, time-bound actions. The agency issued a firm ultimatum that if the upcoming discussions fail to yield meaningful improvements, the government “will not hesitate to pursue stronger regulatory and enforcement measures”

A Pattern of Platform Threats

The DICT’s ultimatum to Meta follows a recent pattern of leveraging regulatory threats to force compliance from major digital platforms. Earlier this year, the agency threatened to suspend both the messaging app Telegram and the gaming platform Roblox over issues ranging from illegal content to the exploitation of minors.

In both instances, the bans were averted only after company executives met with Philippine authorities and agreed to specific concessions, such as zero-tolerance policies, 24/7 help desks, and enhanced local safety features.

This article is published on BitPinas: DICT Rejects Meta’s Misinformation Plan, Threatens Stricter Regulations

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