House defers action on DICT's proposed 2027 budget over Meta issues

The House of Representatives on Wednesday deferred action on the proposed P19.49-billion budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for 2027 during plenary deliberations. The deferment will remain pending the resolution of serious and long-standing concerns involving Meta, the company that owns Facebook and other social media platforms. In a statement, the DICT said the deferment was made during the plenary deliberations “pending the resolution of serious and long-standing concerns involving Meta,” the company that owns Facebook and other social media platforms. The agency said the concerns include Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), which it described as grave threats requiring “decisive action and full accountability.” "These are compounded by other persistent harms facilitated or amplified on major platforms, including online illegal gambling, cyberbullying, social media addiction, depression, and related mental health risks that continue to endanger Filipino children and young people," it said. According to the DICT, Meta “continues to fall short of its responsibility and commitment to youth safety.” The agency said Meta’s large user base and reach come with an obligation to implement effective and measurable safeguards, promptly remove harmful content, and cooperate fully and transparently with Philippine authorities. “Accountability cannot be optional,” the DICT said. “The safety and welfare of Filipino children must remain paramount. Technology companies that operate in the Philippines must be held to the highest standards of responsibility. Persistent failure to address these risks erodes public trust and cannot be tolerated,” it added. The DICT said it would continue working with Congress, law enforcement agencies, child protection advocates, and technology partners to strengthen measures protecting children online and promote a safe, secure, and trusted digital environment for Filipinos. —VBL, GMA News