A proposal of AFP chief to regulate social media was “illegal” and “unconstitutional”, according to Senator Franklin Drilon.
An AFP chief’s proposal to regulate social media was “illegal” and “unconstitutional”, according to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
This, after Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay — a chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) — proposed that enforcers would regulate social media through the Anti-Terrorism Act’s Implementing Rules and Regulations.
He earlier claimed that social media was utilized by terrorist groups in order to radicalize the youth and to plan their attacks.
In a statement, Drilon said that there’s nothing in the law which will allow enforcers to control or regulate social media, adding that a proper governmental purpose of the said law may not be achieved by means that would invade the “area of protected freedoms”.
Drilon also said that there were other existing models on cracking down on terrorist propaganda that the government can be used without regulating social media.
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Citing Section 16 of Republic Act 11479, Drilon said that the Anti-Terrorism Act required law enforcement officers to file an application with the Court of Appeals before conducting surveillance activities.
In addition, the senator said that social media was an effective platform for the people in order for them to voice out their criticisms against the government.
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