Fake news

Sen. Bam thanks voters for continued trust amid deluge of fake news

Sen. Bam Aquino thanked the Filipino people for their continued trust and support after he landed in the top 12 of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) senatorial survey.

 “Salamat po sa mga kababayan natin para sa lumalakas na suporta sa kabila ng mga paninira sa akin,” said Sen. Bam, who was in a tie for 10th to 12th places in the SWS survey conducted from February 25 to 28.

Sen. Bam expressed gratitude to the people who fight for the truth amid the prevalence of fake news and trolls that seek to destroy his reputation and accomplishments.

 “Napakahalaga po ng tiwala ninyo sa akin at sa tinrabaho natin sa Senado nitong nakaraang anim na taon,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam called on voters to unite and strengthen their fight for an independent Senate that will protect the welfare of the public.

 “Magkaisa po tayo at palakasin pa natin ang laban para sa isang independent na Senado bilang tunay na kakampi ng taumbayan,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam pursigidong magtrabaho kahit target ng fake news

Even with the upsurge of fake quotes and disinformation against Sen. Bam Aquino, the senator remains unfazed and continues to work on reforms to uplift Filipino families. 

“Hindi naman nawawala ang fake news sa akin, at titindi pa ang pagbaha ng paninira ngayong palapit na ang halalan. Ngunit may mga mas mahalgang isyu ang mga Pilipino na kailangan pang solusyunan, tulad ng matinding pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, who filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo bill as early as May this year. 

“Gusto ko lang magtrabaho at magsulong ng mga reporma na makakatulong sa pamilyang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who has already passed 27 laws in his first term as senator, including the law granting free college education to which he is principal sponsor. 

Recently, several Facebook groups have posted fake quotes and misinformation about Sen. Bam. The fake quotes were designed to deceive the public as they were placed beside logos of legitimate news organizations. These legitimate news organizations have already called out the quotes and photos as fake. 

“Baka sa 80 percent na fake news na nakikita ng mga Pilipino, malaki ang porsyento diyan tungkol sa akin,” the senator joked.

“Maging mapagbantay tayo sa pekeng balita at paglilinlang sa social media. Ang maaasahan niyo naman sa akin ay ang patuloy kong pagtrabaho sa mga reporma natin sa Senado, lalo na sa edukasyon,” Sen. Bam said. 

 Recently, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 88 percent of Filipinos are aware of the proliferation of fake news on social media.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam conducted a hearing on the responsible use of social media in schools to fight spread of fake news on social media. 

In the said hearing, Sen. Bam urged different stakeholders, led by the Department of Education (DepEd), to join forces in combating rampant trolling, hate speech and spread of misinformation online. 

 In another Senate hearing, Sen. Bam called on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to seriously tackle the problem of online disinformation and fake news sites.

Sen. Bam: Fact-check coalition will strengthen fight against online disinformation, fake news

Senator Bam Aquino welcomed Facebook’s initiative to push through with a local-fact checking coalition aimed at addressing spread of fake news on its platform.

“We’re glad Facebook has decided to enter into a local fact-checking coalition in the aftermath of its failure to protect millions of personal data from being exposed,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam was referring to Facebook’s move to partner with Rappler and Vera Files for a third-party fact-checking program in the Philippines to prevent fake news from spreading on its social media platform.

“With disinformation spreading like wildfire through social media, it’s encouraging to see Facebook take a stronger stance on this issue and partner with agencies that are genuinely fighting fake news,” added Sen. Bam.

Facebook’s move came days after it was revealed that the accounts of 87 million users worldwide were accessed by Cambridge Analytica, a communications firm accused of harvesting data of millions of Facebook users to help Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Of that number, around 1,175,870 Filipino users may have had their Facebook information improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, according to Facebook’s Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer.

Sen. Bam actively participated in fake news hearings conducted by the Senate. During one of the hearings, Sen. Bam urged Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar to help fight the spread of fake news through Facebook accounts using the name of President Duterte.

Sen. Bam urged the PCOO chief to police his own ranks, saying blogs written by some of his employees in their private capacity hurt the image of the agency.

Also, Sen. Bam called on both supporters and detractors of President Duterte to stop throwing hate speech at each on social media, saying the environment has become toxic.

Sen. Bam: Fake news and disinformation, new enemies of People Power

Days before the 32nd anniversary of EDSA People Power 1, Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Filipino people to harness the spirit of People Power by speaking out against bashers, online misinformation, government controversies and issues of national interest.

“Kung dati, tangke ang karahap natin sa EDSA, ang kalaban natin ngayon ay mga nagpapakalat ng pekeng balita at trolls sa social media,” Sen. Bam said in a television interview.

The lawmaker said the Filipino people must harness the spirit of People Power by speaking out against cyberbullies and online misinformation, while engaging in discussion about government controversies and issues of national interest.

“Kailangan natin mahanap ang ating boses. Magsalita tayo at makilahok tayo sa mga nangyayari sa ating bayan, lalo na kapag may nakikita tayong mali,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam stressed that today’s battle is different from the one won thirty-two years ago, but we are still fighting for the same ideals.

“Ipagdiwang natin ang EDSA at alalahanin ang mga ipinaglaban noon – wakasan ang korupsyon, patibayin ang malayang media, at itaguyod ang karapatan ng mga Pilipino,” Sen. Bam said.

 “Beyond politics, beyond political colors, beyond political parties, EDSA People Power is about fighting dictatorship and the restoration of democracy in our country,” added Sen. Bam.

Through this peaceful revolution, Sen. Bam said the world caught a glimpse of the best version of the Filipino.

 “Let’s celebrate People Power this year by being the best, most courageous and most compassionate versions of ourselves,” said Sen. Bam.

Food bank bill, casualty of fake news

As we celebrate World Food Day today (Monday), Senator Bam Aquino pointed out that the food bank bill is yet another casualty of fake news.

“Dahil sa paggamit ng fake news laban sa akin, pati ang mabuting reporma, siniraan na. Sayang ang Zero Food Waste bill na magpapatayo sana ng mga food banks sa bansa,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, referring to his Senate Bill No. 357.

If passed into law, the measure would create a National Anti-Food Waste Scheme, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as coordinating agency between food businesses, such as food manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels, and food banks.

 The measure mandates restaurants and supermarkets to give unserved food, such as canned goods and uncooked rice, to food-distribution charities or “food banks” to provide food to the poorest Filipino families.

 Sen. Bam said the scheme will set guidelines and standards for the collection, storage, and distribution of edible food donated to food banks.

 Cooked food or food waste would not be served but, instead, will be recycled into fertilizer or compost.

 Unfortunately, several dubious​ websites ​and blogs falsely branded the bill, making it appear that it was meant to serve leftover food to the poor. Those websites even carried a fake quote from the senator.

“I can overlook the name-calling, pero sayang naman ang panukalang ito na makakatulong sa mga Pilipinong nagugutom. Nakain na ng fake news ang food bank bill,” Sen. Bam lamented.

 The senator still hopes this reform can be resurrected and heard in the Senate to help address hunger in the country as well as reduce the wastage of food.

Sen. Bam: Heavier penalty for government officials acting as source of fake news

Sen. Bam Aquino believes that government officials acting as source or spreading fake news should be meted with a heavier penalty, saying they should be more responsible for their statements as public servants.

“Panahon na para gumawa ng batas para sa fake news at panagutin ang mga nagkakalat nito, lalo na kung sila ay tauhan ng pamahalaan. Dapat lang na mas mabigat ang parusa sa mga lingkod bayan na nagkakalat ng pekeng balita,” said Sen. Bam.

“Public servants should be held to a higher standard,” he added.

During the Senate hearing on fake news, Sen. Bam said both majority and minority senators agreed to fight fake news through legislation. Sen. Joel Villanueva recently filed a measure aimed at punishing persons spreading fake news, including government officials 

“Freedoms have limits  May hangganan ang kalayaan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong batas kontra libel at laban sa anumang pagbabanta ng ibang tao,” explained Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also called as “premature” the pronouncement of President Duterte that no law against fake news will passed during his term.

“Premature pa iyan. Kasi kaka-hearing pa lang natin, at sa totoo rin lang, marami pang mag-e-engage dito sa batas para mas mapayaman ito. So tingnan natin kung saan ito pupunta,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also stressed that it’s high-time that platform and netizens behind the spread of fake news, misinformation and black propaganda online should be punished.

 “Panahon na rin sa ating bansa na magkaroon ng ganyang rules dito,” said Sen. Bam, adding that this legislation could help create clear rules of engagement for social media.

Sen. Bam to netizens: Make a stand, be vocal

Stressing that the Philippines is a democracy, Sen. Bam Aquino encouraged netizens, whether pro- or anti-government, to speak up on crucial issues hounding the country, such as the extrajudicial killings (EJKs).

“It’s time to speak up, whether it’s for or against the administration, the opposition, the EJKs, etc. It goes for all sides,” said Sen. Bam during the Senate hearing on fake news on social media.

“Now, more than ever, kailangan tayong tumayo at manindigan. Laban kung laban. Tagisan ng talino, tagisan ng kuro-kuro but we have to do it through civilized means,” Sen. Bam asserted.

Sen. Bam called on pro- and anti-government bloggers and netizens to be more circumspect in expressing their views, to condemn hate speech, and to stop the spread of fake news.

Sen. Bam then submitted a list of fake news sites to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to unmask those behind the propagation of misinformation online. Many of the websites used the name of the president.

 “Hindi ba nakakasama sa administrasyon kapag ginagamit and pangalan ng pangulo para magkalat ng fake news?” Sen. Bam posited.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) conceded there are websites bearing the President’s name that do create fake news and that they should take actions against it.

Sen. Bam added that the Senate is ready to step in and legislate a measure to provide rules of engagement for social media to avoid the situation from getting worse. 

“It will intensify, from both sides. And if we need rules of engagement, then we will legislate,” said Sen. Bam.

7 Tips for responsible use of social media for Filipinos

It’s World Social Media Day! According to studies, the Philippines ranks no. 1 in terms of time spent on social media. At dahil diyan, dapat lang na mas maging responsable tayo sa paggamit ng social media, di ba? Huwag basta-basta maniwala sa mga nababasa online. Think before you click and spread love not hate. Peace!
1. Check the label. Sa dami ng naglipanang fake news websites, i-check muna ang pangalan at URL o link ng news source. Kapag may extra letter o number sa pangalan ng source, aba eh maghinala ka na! Maraming websites ang nagpapaganggap na legit news websites pero kung susuriing mabuti, ginagaya lang nila ang interface at URL ng website upang makapang loko.
2. Read before you share.  Huwag basta-basta mag like, comment or share ng mga juicy articles na nababasa sa Facebook at Twitter. If it’s too funny or too weird to be true, basahin at intindihin muna ang buong article bago i-share o mag comment. Sabi nga nila – G.I.Y.F. – Google is Your Friend! Kapag hindi sigurado, i-Google mo.
 
3. Keep out! Hindi lang sa totoong buhay dapat maging “nice”, sa​ social media din. Iwasan ang mga Facebook group at pages na nakaka-violate at discriminate ng pagkatao. ​Respeto lang! ​Peace!
4. Do not enter! Hindi lang sa pag-ibig maraming manloloko at manggagamit, pati na sa world wide web. Huwag ​click ng click sa mga kung anu anong websites, lalo na yung kahina-hinala, baka mavirus ka pa!
6. Quality over quantity. Magbasa ng mga balita online ​at maghanap ng kalidad na mga journalist, huwag umasa sa headline, hirit at dami ng followers. Remember, popularity is not credibility.

 

7. Be real. Kung paano ka ​in real life, dapat ganun ka din sa social media​. Pag-isipan ng maigi bago mag-post. Sa dinami dami ng fake ​na​ nagkalat, kailangan ng mundo ang mga nagpapakatotoo at authentic. Stay real, Philippines!

 

5. Care before you share. Sa dali at bilis ng pag-post sa social media, minsan nakakalimutan natin pakinggan ang puso bago mag-share ng saloobin. Huwag na tayo dumagdag sa dami ng away at pananakot online. Mag-ingat at piliting maging understanding. Magshare ng mga magagandang bagay at pampa GV. ‘Wag lang puro nega, ​why not spread mega-love and happiness to your online friends! 

Sen. Bam calls for stakeholders’ cooperation to combat fake news

With more Filipinos now getting their news from social media, a senator stressed the urgent need to combat the proliferation of fake news online.

“Huwag na tayo magpabola sa mga nagpapakalat ng fake news,” said Sen. Bam Aquino. “Panahon na para labanan ang pekeng balita sa Pilipinas”.

“Hindi lang nakakasira ng reputasyon ang pekeng balita, nilalayo pa tayo sa tunay at mahalagang isyu ng lipunan,” he added.

While he supports the passage of Senate Bill No. 1429, Sen. Bam said it needs to be discussed further.

“Nagkakaisa kami ni Sen. Joel na naniniwala na lahat, lalo na ang ating sworn public servants, ay dapat managot sa pagkalat ng maling balita,” he added.

“Pero marami pa tayong kailangan klaruhin, like what is considered a reasonable period for a social media platform to be able to put down a fake post? What would be an acceptable basis for branding fake news?” Sen. Bam said.

In addition, Sen. Bam called for stakeholders cooperation, from government officials, social media platforms and schools to combat fake news online.

“Kailangan natin ng kooperasyon ng lahat, lalo na mula sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, at mga social media platforms para labanan natin ang pagkalat ng pekeng balita sa Internet,” said Sen. Bam, who during his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education pushed for social media literacy in schools.

“In a hearing on social media literacy last year, we already called on schools to better educate the youth on fake news and cyberbullying,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said fake news is not just a local concern but a worldwide phenomenon, with different countries starting different initiatives to battle its spread.

Countries like France are strengthening their fact-checking capabilities while Germany has passed legislation to regulate social media.

In Malaysia, online chat administrators are facing legal action for allowing spread of disinformation among members of their groups.

Sen. Bam also said Indonesia is setting up an agency that will tackle fake news.

“We must study all possible courses of action and learn from the best and most effective practices,” he said.

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