Marcos Open to Banning Facebook, Other Platforms Over Online Harms

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to recommendations to ban Facebook and other online platforms if they fail to adequately address disinformation and content harmful to public welfare, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.

This development follows a proposal by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to study a potential ban. The agency floated the idea following a fatal shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where the suspect was reportedly linked to online hate sites.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified that discussing a potential ban is separate from restricting freedom of expression and legitimate criticism, which remain fully respected.

Instead, she emphasized that the administration's primary concern is holding tech giants accountable for slow responses to violence and the spread of fake news, which directly threaten the digital safety and development of the youth.