DICT-CICC wants ‘zero tolerance’ for online harms

The Department of Information and Communications Technology - Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (DICT-CICC) on Monday announced a “zero tolerance” policy against online harms, which range from scams and illegal products to child pornography and disinformation, as they strengthen partnerships with major social media and e-commerce platforms.

DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda said the initiative follows a surge in complaints about social media and e-commerce platforms lodged through their action center.

“Kasi of late, maraming po kaming natanggap doon sa action center namin na mga escalation on problems with social media platforms. Isama na po natin yung mga platforms sa e-commerce,” said Aguda in a press conference on Monday. 

(Lately, we have received many escalations in our action center regarding problems with social media platforms, including e-commerce platforms.)

Aguda said the directive from President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is to “eliminate or minimize as much as possible the social harm that is brought about by the use of social media.”

“Alam niyo po, hindi po kami against sa social media platforms o kaya sa online selling… Pero dapat bawasan natin yung ill effects po.”

(We are not against social media platforms or online selling… But we must reduce their harmful effects.)

Zero tolerance

CICC Acting Executive Director Renato A. Paraiso stressed that online harms, including scams, counterfeit goods, illegal vapes, and deepfakes linked to child exploitation—will not be tolerated.

“Meron tayong zero tolerance policy when it comes to online harms. At nag-agree naman sila.”

(We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to online harms. And they [platforms] agreed.)

Paraiso warned that platforms failing to comply with government directives may be blocked entirely.

“So sinasabi na rin namin sa kanila that those who would not comply, we would be compelled to exercise kung ano yung mga available remedies sa amin. And one of them is to block yung mga sites na ito. So yung mga kababayan natin, baka dumating yung panahon na magkaroon tayo ng holiday sa mga hindi nagcocomply na platforms.”

(We have told them that those who would not comply, we would be compelled to use available remedies. One of them is to block these sites. So there may come a time when Filipinos will experience a ‘holiday’ from non-compliant platforms.)

Partnerships with tech giants

The government cited cooperation from TikTok, Shopee, Google, and Meta. TikTok reported removing 21 million videos between May 2024 and April 2025 for violating its community guidelines, 94.4% of which were removed within 24 hours and 92.8% before gaining any views.

Shopee Philippines also reaffirmed its commitment to take down illegal listings and cooperate with authorities. Meta, in a written statement, said it remains committed to working with the DICT, law enforcement, and civil society to remove harmful content such as child sexual abuse material, human trafficking, scams, and disinformation.

Authorities also appealed to the public to report harmful content directly through the CICC hotline 1326 or via email at dict.gov.ph.

“Sa amin niyo padala tapos kami na bahala. So pag fake news, share it to us para we can address it and take it down,” said Aguda. 

(Send it to us and we will take care of it. If it’s fake news, share it with us so we can address and take it down.)

CICC officials emphasized that disinformation, scams, and harmful content endanger not only ordinary users but also national security and the integrity of Philippine institutions.

“Again with all forms this really is sana yung collaboration against online harms. Pero hindi rin natin maiwasan na part of online harms really is babalik ko tayo sa usapin ng fake news,” Paraiso noted. 

(This is really about collaboration against online harms. But we cannot deny that part of online harms inevitably leads us back to the issue of fake news.) — BM, GMA Integrated News