DICT’s Push Leads to Faster Removal of Fake News by Meta

Efforts to fight online disinformation just got a boost. After a firm push from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), tech giant Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, has begun taking down false election-related content much faster. In some cases, flagged posts are now being removed in under an hour.

This development is part of the Philippine government's wider campaign to clean up cyberspace during the election season. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier called on agencies to step up digital security, especially with the elections happening on May 12, 2025.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which operates under the DICT, confirmed that Meta’s response time has significantly improved in recent weeks.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said he was pleased with the outcome but stressed that this momentum shouldn’t end after the elections. “We’re thankful for the quick action, but this should continue beyond the campaign season. Monitoring harmful content must be constant,” he said.

Aguda also emphasized the need for collective action. He called on all social media companies to join what he referred to as digital bayanihan, a shared effort to protect online spaces from lies, scams, and toxic content.

Earlier this month, DICT officials met with Meta’s regional representative Genixon David to explore ways of improving how quickly harmful content is flagged and taken down. The meeting focused on making enforcement tools more effective and ensuring that social media platforms act faster.

The DICT and CICC continue to stay focused on cybersecurity, aiming to build a safer digital environment while encouraging responsible behavior online. With big tech now more responsive, this could mark a turning point in the country’s fight against fake news.

(via DICT)