ABS-CBN News file photoMANILA (UPDATED) — A lawmaker on Tuesday floated the possibility of requiring social media platforms to secure a franchise from Congress amid the spread of fake news, disinformation and misinformation online.

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Surigao del Norte Second District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers issued the statement during the resumption of the House Tri-Comm probe on Tuesday.

“We are contemplating on maybe perhaps, asking all the social media platforms to secure a franchise in this Congress,” he said.

“Because we want to make sure that it’s not just the platforms who make money, but also the Philippine government. That’s one. Number two, if you are under the franchise of this government… you will be subject to the regulations, and then the rules that will be enforced under this law,” Barbers added.

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But he and House Committee on Public Order and Safety vice chairperson and Antipolo Second District Rep. Romeo Acop denied observations that the inquiry intended to suppress freedom of expression or speech.

“The inquiry aims to ensure that all proposed legislative measures align with the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and of expression and prevent any undue censorship,” Acop said. 

“We are all aware that this is provided for in our Constitution and we’d like to respect the right of everyone to his own opinion or to his own expression. Contrary to what others may be thinking, this is not in any way a tool to suppress their expressions or opinions on certain issues, whether they may be political or economic or even other points of views,” Barbers added.

“’Yung sa akin lang naman po ay isang polisiya or framework na kung saan ay hindi magamit ang social media platforms for spreading fake news or espousing disinformation, misinformation or mal-information,” he noted.

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