With the upcoming 2022 elections, two senators brace for a surge of troll farms and provide means to prevent activities like fake news and character assassination of political candidates, among others.
Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Pangilinan provided the public tips to ward off trolls on all forms of social media.
Lacson might join the presidential race if he acceded to the proddings of Senate President Vicente Sotto III to lead the Nationalist People’s Coalition in next year’s elections. Sotto is supposed to be Lacon’s running mate.
Pangilinan, also Liberal Party Acting President has confirmed he is seeking a re-re-election.
According to Lacson, “resisting the urge to engage trolls, reporting them, and blocking them” is the three-point habit that ordinary Filipinos can develop against internet trolls, while waiting for Facebook and other social media platforms to crack down on them.
Lacson also backed Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III’s call to Facebook Philippines to act against troll farms supposedly being set up for the 2022 elections.
Earlier, Lacson cited information reaching him indicating that an undersecretary is organizing troll farms—two in each province—in time for next year’s election.
“But as we wait for the companies concerned to take appropriate action, it would be better for us to develop the habits that will deny these trolls their prize,” noted Lacson.
Pangilinan also supported Lacson and Sotto that trolling should be addressed in preparation for the upcoming elections.
Citing a study by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, he said candidates fielded by the opposition during the 2019 elections were the most prone to trolling and fake news online.
Pangilinan said efforts will be made to address the weaponization of social media.
“We have to look at legislation moving forward. How do we now regulate? of course, this is a challenge because we have free speech.
We also have cybercrime laws.How do we, sa legislation, look into regulatory interventions to address itong fake news and trolling?” he said.
“Facebook and other social media platforms have become crime scenes, enabling criminality. The Philippines is No. 1 in child pornography and pedophile rings. And that is done through all these social med platforms. Whether it’s Youtube or Twitter or WhatApp or Facebook. All of them, they have to shape up,” he said.
With 100 days left before the voter’s registration period ends, Pangilinan urged the public to be vigilant and to do their part in calling out fake news.
“Proactive takedown of abusive behavior online by social media platforms is key, “ said Pangilina who disclosed he has been a twrget of trolls for the past five years.
“The most prone were the opposition candidates. And I think it will be the same. Maybe even worse. Unless we do something about it,” Pangilinan said.
Lacson said he has blocked from his Twitter account those who are “out of topic, out of reason, and out of their mind – and whose only happiness is to bash like a troll.” He had blocked over 2,000 accounts as of June 2021.
He added some signs of online trolls that ordinary Filipinos can look out for may include:
* The person’s main Facebook profile has no activity; and usually has a generic or unidentifiable profile photo
* Overly aggressive and/or condescending behavior, with targeted offensive messages instead of reasonable arguments
* Use of ‘copy-paste’ or distinguishable patterns in their comments
* Use of fake news and/or twisted logic
* Sudden surge of ‘like-minded’ comments targeting and attacking one who does not share their views.