Goodbye trolls? DICT mulls all social media users to be verified

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is working on a policy measure that would require all social media platforms in the country to have their users verified in a bid to strengthen regulation and accountability in cyberspace.

At the sidelines of Globe-Starlink ceremonial partnership signing in Taguig City on Friday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the ICT Department will be releasing a department order next week to implement the measure.

“It is currently under review by our policy, legal team… So far, there is no problem with it. Once I see their recommendation on my table, we will issue it next week,” Aguda said.

The DICT made the announcement amid the issues over the sexually explicit and non-consensual images generated by Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI.

He said that if social media users are all verified, it would be easier to trace if they commit offenses or cybercrimes on social media.

The DICT chief added that the policy was also aimed to reduce trolls on social media platforms.

“Well, trolls should be reduced… that’s one. Second, the AI bots,” Aguda said.

A troll refers to a person or persons using social media, often behind anonymity or fictitious accounts, deliberately posting offensive comments to provoke or upset others on social media.

The DICT chief explained that social media platforms “want to do it” and are only awaiting policy direction from the government as “it’s difficult for them to self-regulate” since “they make money out of traffic.”

“So we will give them a basis then, they'll follow,” Aguda said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News