MANILA, Philippines – Bubuhayin ni Senador Joel Villanueva ang panukala na magpaparusa sa mga indibidwal na magpapakalat ng fake news.
Ang proposed Anti-Fake News Act ay kabilang sa priority legislation na inihain ng senador sa 20th Congress.
Sa ilalim ng panukala, labag sa batas ang sinumang “maliciously offer, publish, distribute, circulate, and spread false news or information or cause the publication, distribution, circulation, or spreading of the same in print, broadcast, or online media.”
“Provided that, such false news or information cause[s] or tend[s] to cause panic, division, chaos, violence, [or] hate, or which exhibit[s] or tend[s] to exhibit a propaganda to blacken or discredit one’s reputation, and the person knowingly commits such act with full knowledge that such news or information is false, or with reasonable grounds to believe that the same is false,” saad pa sa panukala.
Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, ang mga lalabag dito ay posibleng makulong ng hanggang limang taon at pagmumultahin ng hanggang P5 milyon.
Ang mga tutulong naman sa pagpapakalat ng fake news ay maaaring makulong ng tatlong taon at multang hanggang P3 milyon.
“If the offender is a public official, they shall be liable for twice the amount of the fine imposed above and be imprisoned for two times longer than the period provided herein. In addition, they shall also suffer the accessory penalty of absolute perpetual disqualification from holding any public office,” ayon pa sa panukala.
Samantala, mas mabigat na parusa ang ipinapanukala sa anumang mass media enterprise o social media platform na tatangging mag-alis ng maling balita o impormasyon “within a reasonable period after having knowledge, or having reasonable grounds to believe, of its falsity.”
Maaari ang mga ito na makulong ng hanggang 20 taon at multang mula P10 milyon hanggang P20 milyon.
“If the offender is a corporation, the president, chief executive officer, and other responsible officers shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment.”
Matatandaan na inihain na rin ni Villanueva ang kaparehong panukala noong Hunyo 2017. RNT/JGC
