HB 3799 proposes jail time for fake news dissemination

House Bill No. 3799 has been refiled in the House of Representatives, proposing penalties of six to twelve years' imprisonment and fines ranging from PHP500,000 to PHP2 million for individuals who maliciously disseminate fake news.

The bill defines fake news as false or misleading information deliberately spread to mislead the public and cause harm.

Authored by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., the measure aims to address the threat of disinformation through digital platforms, emphasizing that freedom of speech is not absolute when it endangers public safety or national security.

The bill introduces aggravating circumstances for cases involving national security, elections interference, disaster response disruption, or foreign assistance in spreading fake news.

To prevent abuse and ensure accountability, the measure includes judicial safeguards and mandates social media platforms to designate liaison officers with the Department of Information and Communications Technology.