UP prof opposes proposed Senate bill vs. fake news 

A journalism professor on Friday said he opposes the proposed Anti-Fake News Act filed by Senator Joel Villanueva, noting that self-regulation and court of public opinion should be the solution.

"Ang problema kasi yung fake news talaga, hindi dapat batas ang mag-control dito, hindi ito usapin ng court of law kundi court of public opinion," Danilo Arao, Associate Professor of Journalism in University of the Philippines Diliman said in an interview on GMA News'  Unang Balita.

"Kaya kung usapin yan ng peryodismo o kaya kahit saang social media platform, ang ugat talaga ng ating pakikibaka para masawata ang fake news ay yung self-regulation na tinatawag natin," he added.

Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 1492 or the proposed Anti-Fake News Act which seeks to penalize any person or entity who maliciously offers, publishes, distributes, circulates, and spreads false news or information in print, broadcast or online media.

Under the bill, any person who will be proven guilty of maliciously publishing and distributing fake news would face a payment of fine ranging from P100,000 to P5 million and imprisonment of one to five years.

Arao pointed out "media literacy" as one of the issues on the proliferation of fake news on social media.

"Ang issue rito ay yung media literacy at tsaka media education. Kailangan talagang may conscious effort, hindi lang yung akademya kundi yung media para magkaroon ng pagpapataas sa antas ng kamulatan hindi lang sa peryodista at manggagawa sa media kundi pati na rin sa mga audience," he said.

He said that the proposed measure on anti-fake news would defeat the purpose of "self-regulation."

"Para sa akin, kailangan talagang maging mapanuri at wala talagang excuse yung tinatawag nating media literacy at media education kaya napaguusapan na rin lang yung Senate Bill 1492, yung anti-fake news act. Malinaw yung aking malakas na pagtutol dito sapagkat dinidefeat nito yung purpose ng self-regulation at napakalawak talaga ng definition and in fact wala pa ngang definition of terms sa Section 2 eh," he said.

Meanwhile, Arao also called on the public to remain conscious on social media as some entities benefit from spreading fake news.

"Ang maipapayo natin sa mga mamamayan dapat talaga maging consious doon sa ganitong klaseng dynamic, dahil may kumikita talaga. May kumikita mula sa cyberbullying at trolling, pero ang sagot dito ay hindi batas kundi yung engagement doon sa court of public opinion na tinatawag natin," he added. — Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/RSJ/KVD, GMA News