12 senators want probe into alleged government-funded troll farms

Twelve senators filed on Monday a resolution calling for an investigation into reports of troll farms proliferating fake news and misinformation on social media sites, which are allegedly run by public funds.

Senate Resolution No. 768 directed the appropriate committee to look into spending of government funds for the creation of troll farms to target critics of the Duterte administration as well as spread fake information.

"Filipinos should know why the government spends public funds on troll farm operators disguised as ‘public relations practitioners’ and ‘social media consultants’ who sow fake news," the resolution read.

The resolution was introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Emmanuel Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe and Joel Villanueva.

Under the resolution, a social media troll is defined as “someone who creates conflict on sites like Twitter, Facebook and Reddit by posting messages that are particularly controversial or inflammatory with the sole intent of provoking an emotional response from other users.”

It was Lacson who had divulged information about an undersecretary who operates at least two troll farms  in each province to attack opposition and even possible candidates in Eleksyon 2022.

In a separate statement, Senator Joel Villanueva condemned the operations of trolls, adding that all political groups must commit to a "troll disarmament."

"Democracy can only flourish under the free and frank exchange of ideas, that may clash as they often must, but always must be anchored on facts," said Villanueva.

Meanwhile, opposition Senator Francis " Kiko" Pangilinan said the probe on possible use of public funds on troll farms is needed as it is a threat to democracy.

"Hindi natin pwedeng hayaang ginagamit ang pera ng taumbayan para manira at mang-harass ng mga taong pumupuna sa gobyerno. Masama ito sa demokrasya, lalo na sa papalapit na halalan sa susunod na taon (We must not let pass the use of taxpayers' money to malign and harass people who are critical to the government. This is dangerous for democracy, especially that elections are upcoming next year),” Pangilinan, who himself experienced being trolled, said in another statement.

The senators said the allegation should not be dismissed as Filipinos' heavy use of social media sites such as Facebook make them vulnerable to the trolls' fake information.

"Trolling is lying. It is evil, especially that we have an upcoming election. If people elect a president and other officials because of the fake information spread by paid trolls, then similarly we will have a fake president and fake officials," Pangilinan said.

Progressive solons had also sought for a probe into the so-called government-funded troll farms being used to create fake news as well as attack critics of the Duterte administration.—Consuelo Marquez/Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News