Sotto calls for immediate removal of fake news creators

Senator-elect Vicente Sotto III called for stronger safeguards against fake news during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.

Sotto stressed the importance of preserving press freedom while also holding individuals accountable for knowingly spreading false information, emphasizing that his proposed measure will be a standalone law to immediately remove and arrest creators of fake news in online platforms.

He proposed that online platforms should immediately remove fabricated content, noting that under the existing cyberlibel law, fake news can remain online for up to two years without consequence, causing prolonged harm to reputations.

In 2019, Sotto authored Republic Act 11458, which expanded press freedom protections to include electronic media and accredited online platforms.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered his government to combat fake news and disinformation following the 2025 midterm elections.

The original Press Freedom Law, enacted in 1946, only covered print media but now ensures journalists' confidentiality while maintaining legal accountability.