Ni: Argyll Cyrus Geducos at Mary Ann Santiago
Sinabi ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na pinag-aaralan nitong i-delete ang mga social media account na pinagsususpetsahan ng cyber-sedition kaugnay ng krisis sa Marawi.
Ayon kay AFP spokesperson Brigadier Gen. Restituto Padilla, mula sa orihinal na 63 account na kanilang na-monitor, mayroon na ngayong umaabot sa 70-80 social media account na pinagsususpetsahang nagkakalat ng terrorism propaganda.
Sa ‘Mindanao Hour’ press briefing kahapon, sinabi ni Padilla na mataman nilang binabantayan ang naturang accounts at nakikipagtulungan na sila sa social media companies.
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“We have been watching social media closely, particularly for those who have been sowing disinformation,” aniya. “And we have touched base with social media companies to request their assistance to put down sites that are fomenting disinformation and discord as well as violence.”
Pero sa kabila ng maayos na tugon ng social media companies, sinabi niya na hindi malulutas ng pagtatanggal sa nasabing kuwestiyonableng accounts ang buong problema.
“But the point is, it only solves the closing of the account. The individuals behind those accounts are the more important targets of our operation,” ani Padilla.
‘WAG MAGKALAT NG FAKE NEWS
Nauna nang sinabi ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) na tinutunton na ng ahensiya ang ilang katao na nagpapakalat ng online propaganda sa Marawi City.
Paulit-ulit na hinihimok ng AFP ang publiko na umiwas sa pagbabahagi o pagpo-post ng unverified information at fake news dahil magdudulot lamang ito ng pagkabahala at pangamba sa mga tao.
HINDI PAGSUPIL SA FREE SPEECH
Kaugnay nito, naniniwala si Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)-Permanent Committee on Public Affairs, na hindi pagsupil sa kalayaan sa pagpapahayag ang paghihigpit ng Facebook sa mga social media account na nagpapahayag ng paghihimagsik at terorismo.
Aniya, may sariling regulasyon ang Facebook at iba pang social media at kailangang magpasakop ang subscribers dito.
“Restriction to freedom of expression should not even be an issue in this regard. It’s a choice between public good vs. private good. May a government or institution allow an individual to pose threat or harm to the public just because he wants to do it? No! Because that freedom is not and cannot be absolute especially if in the exercise of it the public good is jeopardized,” sinabi ni Secillano sa panayam ng Radyo Veritas.
