At least two senators backed a recommendation to shut down social media accounts that are “inimical to national interest” or are linked to terrorism.
Senators Gregorio Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, and Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs were amenable to the proposal of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, under the Office of the President, represented by lawyer Roberton Lapuz.
Honasan and Lacson said they would include the proposal when they amend the Human Security Act of 2007.
The NICA, under the Office of the President, presented its proposal on social media accounts during Tuesday’s hearing on the anti-terrorism law.
Honasan, also incoming DICT secretary, would be in charge of implementing the measure.
“It will be incorporated in the proposed amendments, which will be finalized in the committee report and be submitted by the chairman for plenary debates,” Honasan said.
Lacson said in Australia, the government could shut down any account that it deemed would increase the danger of terrorism.
Lapuz said they got the idea from countries such as India, which has the power to ban social media applications that are deemed inimical to the national interest.
“I earlier mentioned that we wanted the DICT to be empowered and to have the authority to be able to shut down social media accounts in Facebook, Twitter, and similar other mechanisms,” Lapuz said.
Marwil Llasos, anti-terrorism program coordinator of the Institute of International Legal Studies, backed the proposal and said “what is paramount is the police power of the state.”