Sandro Marcos: Anti-fake news bill not censorship tool amid press freedom fears

House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos on Monday assured journalists that the House-approved anti-disinformation bill is not intended to curtail press freedom or censor the media. Marcos was referring to House Bill 9465, or the proposed Digital Media Anti-False Information Act, which imposes prison terms and fines of up to P2 million on those found guilty of willfully spreading false information. Under the bill, individuals found guilty of “knowingly and deliberately creating, financing, directing or materially assisting false information intended to cause verifiable public harm or pose a serious threat to national security” face six to 12 years in prison and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P2 million. The measure also covers AI-generated or manipulated images, videos and audio released without proper disclosure and intended to mislead the public. “We are not here to censor anyone. I always have been of the belief that media is there to provide a check, to provide part of the checks and balances of government officials,” Marcos told reporters. He also acknowledged concerns raised by media and civil society groups that the proposed law could be used to restrict press freedom. “Those concerns are actually very valid and I understand that it might be misconstrued as something to do with censorship or using the bill to weaponize the media,” Marcos said. “[But] I think what's important is to have necessary media participation in order for those safeguards to at least, if not there already, at least be introduced either in the Senate version or during the period of amendments,” he added. Marcos maintained that the measure seeks to address the growing spread of false information online, which lawmakers have identified as a threat to public safety, democratic institutions and informed public discourse, while safeguarding constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and of the press. “The objective of the proposal is to confront the growing challenge of false online information while respecting the indispensable role of a free and independent press,” he said. — MCG, GMA News