Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._3472

Introduced by Representative Jan Rurik D. Padiernos, GP (Galing sa Puso) Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In today’s digital landscape, information is disseminated instantly through social media
platforms, messaging apps, and algorithm-driven content feeds. These technologies have made
it easier access information, but they have also made it easier for “fake news” or misleading
content to spread quickly. This harms public discourse, weakens institutions, and damages the
integrity of elections and public trust.

Although there are existing laws, such as Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code
(unlawful publication) and Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, that
cover some forms of online misconduct, they are not sufficient to counter the proliferation of
disinformation tactics. These include the organized use of troll farms, coordinated inauthentic
behavior, fake accounts, and algorithmic manipulation, often timed to influence elections, sow
confusion, or exploit public fears.

Al-generated content (audio or videos) can now create the illusion that an individual is
advocating for political beliefs or promoting falsehoods when in reality, they are not. This has
a detrimental impact on reputations and confuses the public, particularly during significant
events such as national emergencies or elections.

Other jurisdictions have taken legal steps to address these issues. Singapore's
Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), the European Union’s
Digital Services Act (DSA), and policy framework from technology platforms like Meta and
academic research from the Stanford Internet Observatory all recognize the need for
enforceable, rights-respecting mechanisms to counter disinformation.

This bill seeks to respond to that challenge by:

« Providing clear definitions of online falsehoods, including synthetic and Al-altered
media, and requiring evidence of serious and verifiable harm;

+ Establishing the Cyber Disinformation and Digital Truth Office (CDDTO) under the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to monitor,
verify, and recommend administrative enforcement through Correction, Stop
Communication, or Takedown Orders;

«Clarifying that criminal prosecution for serious disinformation acts shall be conducted
by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its deputized agencies, consistent with due
process under the Rules of Court;


* Creating a public reporting mechanism for individuals and institutions to alert
authorities to emerging falsehoods;

+ Promoting nationwide digital literacy and public education programs in coordination
with Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Information Agency(PIA), and
other stakeholders,

Protecting freedom of expression through clear exemptions for opinion, satire, parody,
and fair comment; and

* Providing fair and accessible appeal mechanisms through the DICT and the judiciary,
consistent with administrative due process and constitutional rights.

This legislation is not intended to suppress dissent or curtail legitimate expression.
Rather, it fills a legal gap through aiming to curtail malicious disinformation that endangers
public interest—while upholding constitutional freedoms and democratic values in the online
space.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

A
ATTY. JAN RURIK D. PADIERNOS
GP (Galing sa Puso) Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._34%2

Introduced by Representative Jan Rurik D. Padiernos, GP (Galing sa Puso) Party-List

AN ACT

ENSURING THE INTEGRITY AND RESILIENCE OF ONLINE INFORMATION

BY DETERRING ALL FORMS OF ONLINE FALSEHOODS AND
DISINFORMATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Online Falsehoods and

Disinformation Prevention and Accountability Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the public from

online falsehoods and disinformation that endanger public health, electoral integrity, national
security, and trust in institutions. The State shall ensure that such protection respects the
constitutional right to freedom of expression. It likewise promotes digital literacy and critical
thinking to empower responsible and informed digital citizens.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby

defined as follows:

(a) Online Falsehood refers to any false statement of fact communicated through
digital or online means that is likely to cause serious and demonstrable harm to
clearly defined public interests, such as threats to public health or safety, disruption
of electoral integrity, national security risks, or erosion of lawful trust in
government institutions, and only when such harm is immediate, substantial, and
verifiable.

(b) Disinformation refers to the intentional creation or dissemination of false or misleading
content, including manipulated media, designed to deceive or mislead the public.

(c) Coordinated inauthentic behavior refers to the use of multiple fake, duplicate, or
automated online accounts, pages, or networks to mislead users, manipulate public
discourse, or artificially amplify or suppress information online, typically in a deceptive
or concealed manner.

(@) Serious and verifiable harm to public interest refers to substantial and demonstrable injury
or risk caused by online falsehoods or disinformation to public safety, health, national
security, electoral integrity, or public order, which is supported by factual, technical, or


expert evidence.

(e) Deepfake refers to synthetic media created or altered using artificial intelligence to falsely
depict individuals as saying or doing things they did not actually say or do.

(f) Troll Farm refers to a coordinated group or network using fake or duplicate accounts to
spread disinformation, distort public discourse, or manipulate online engagement.

(g) Correction Order refers to an order requiring the publication of a correction notice on
content identified as a falsehood.

(h) Stop Communication Order to an order requiring the individual or platform to cease
dissemination of the identified false content.

(Takedown Order to an order requiring the removal of false content from websites,
applications, or social media platforms.

SEC. 4. Creation of the Cyber Disinformation and Digital Truth Office and Its Duties
and Functions. — A Cyber Disinformation and Digital Truth Office (CDDTO) is hereby

created

under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The

Office (DICT-CDDTO) shall have the following duties and functions:

a. Monitor and verify the existence of online falsehoods and disinformation posing

serious and verifiable harm to public interest, including those disseminated
through troll farms, coordinated inauthentic behavior, or deepfake technologies;

b. Issue or impose Correction, Stop Communication, or Takedown Orders against

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any person;
.. Coordinate with online platforms and service providers for enforcement;
|. Educate the public through digital literacy programs;

e. Facilitate reports from individuals and institutions concerning potential

disinformation;

f. Provide for a mechanism of appeal and review;

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Pr

. Ensure transparency, regular reporting, and safeguards against abuse;

Coordinate with law enforcement agencies, including the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Cybercrime Offices, for
the investigation and enforcement of orders where criminal liability may arise;
and

i. Exercise quasi-judicial functions in resolving appeals from administrative

enforcement orders issued under this Act, in accordance with applicable rules and
procedures.

SEC. 5. Exemptions and Safeguards. —This Act shall not apply to:

. Opinion or commentary clearly not presented as a statement of fact;

Satire or parody, including political or social commentary expressed through
humor or exaggeration;

. Fair reporting or criticism, made in good faith on matters of public interest;
|. Journalistic or academic work, provided that reasonable verification was undertaken

and there is no intent to mislead.

These exemptions shail be interpreted in accordance with the right to freedom of speech
and of the press under Article III, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution.

SEC. 6. Administrative Enforcement. — The CDDTO shall monitor and verify

potential violations of the Prohibited Acts as defined under Section __ of this Act. Upon


verification that such prohibited acts were committed knowingly and with intent to cause
serious and verifiable harm to public interest, the CDDTO shall recommend appropriate
administrative enforcement actions to the Department of Information and Communications
Technology (DICT).

The following administrative Orders may be issued under this Act:

a. Correction Order — Directs the subject to publish a correction notice with a
link to official clarification;

b. Stop Communication Order - Requires the subject to stop further
dissemination of the falsehood;

c. Takedown Order — Mandates the removal of content from public access.

Orders shall be issued in accordance with the standards and procedures provided in
Section 7 of this Act.

Entities found to have violated Section 5 may be subject to these Orders. Non-
compliance shall result in administrative penalties under Section 9 of this Act.

In cases of repeated violations or those involving aggravated harm, the CDDTO shall
coordinate with the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution in accordance with
Section 8 and 9 of this Act.

SEC. 7. Issuance of Orders. — A Correction, Stop Communication, or Takedown
Order may be issued by the Secretary of DICT, upon recommendation of the CDDTO, based
on verified findings that an online falsehood or disinformation:

a. Exists and has been published;

b. Results in, or is likely to result in, serious and verifiable harm to public interest,
as defined under this Act; and

c. Can be remedied or mitigated through timely intervention.

Each Order shall clearly state the following:

i. The specific nature and content of the falsehood or manipulated media;
ii, The basis for the finding of intent and harm;

The corrective action required and compliance period; and

iv. The legal remedies available, including the right to appeal.

The affected party shall be notified and granted the opportunity to respond within a
reasonable period. Failure to comply with an issued Order may result in administrative fines
by the CDDTO. In cases of continued non-compliance or aggravated acts, the matter shall be
referred to the DOS for appropriate filing of the case.

SEC. 8, Appeal and Review. — Any person subject to an order may appeal in writing to
the DICT within ten (10) days of receipt. Final administrative decisions may be appealed to the
Court of Appeals under Rule 43 of the Rules of Court.

SEC. 9. Effects of Defying Orders under this Act .— Any person who willfully refuses
or fails to comply with a valid Correction Order, Stop Communication Order, or Takedown


Order issued under this Act shall be criminally liable. The CDDTO shall, motu proprio, file
the case before the the Department of Justice (DOJ).

SEC. 10. Unlawful Acts. — It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly create,
publish, share, or cause the dissemination of any online falsehood or disinformation that results
in, of is likely to result in, serious and verifiable harm to public interest, including but not
limited to:

a. Causing to disrupt or disrupting public order or causing panic;

b. Causing to undermining or undermining confidence in electoral processes;

c. Causing to damage or damaging the reputation of individuals or institutions through
fabricated content;

4. Artificial amplification of falsehoods using troll farms, bots, or fake accounts;

e. Causing to interfere or interfering with legitimate public discourse through coordinated
inauthentic behavior.

SEC. 11. Penalties. ~ Any person who committed any of the unlawful acts in the
preceding Section shall be initially subjected to the issuance of Correction, Stop
Communication or Takedown Orders issued by the CDDTO of the DICT. Such person shall
likewise be liable for an adminsitrative fine of up to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P500,000.00) for every violation after due notice and hearing: Povided, That if the such person
continues to defy lawful issued orders, or if the offense involves intent to deceive, recidivism,
or committed any of the aggravating circumstances in this Section, such person shall suffer an
imprisonment of one (1) year to five (5) years and a fine of not less than P100,000.00 but not
more than P1,000,000.00: Provided, further, That the maximum penalty shall be imposed when
the act is committed:

(@) during national or local election periods;

(b) through the use of troll farms, bots, fake accounts, or other forms of
coordinated inauthentic behavior;

(©) _ bya public officer who abuses their authority; or

(@)__ with the intent to incite panic, disorder, violence, or undermine public trust
in democratic institutions.

Provided, however, That when the act is knowingly committed on behalf of, or for the benefit
of, a juridical person by a natural person holding a leading position by virtue of:

(a) a power of representation for the juridical person, provided the act falls within such
authority;

(b) authority to make decisions on behalf of the juridical person; or

(c) authority to exercise control within the juridical person.

‘Such juridical person shall be held liable for a fine equivalent to double the applicable fines
under this Section but shall not exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00). If the act was made
possible due to the lack of supervision or control by a person in such position, and the act was
committed for the benefit of the juridical person by someone under its authority, the juridical
person shall be liable for a fine not exceeding One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00): Provided
finally, That any person who directly engages, authorizes, or knowingly benefits from the
services of a juridical entity that commits unlawful acts shall likewise be held liable in
accordance with the provisions of this Act. The penalties under this Act shal] be without
prejudice to other criminal liability that may be imposed by other applicable criminal laws.


SEC. 12. Public Reporting Mechanism, —The CDDTO shall establish and maintain
an accessible, secure, and user-friendly digital platform for individuals, civil society groups,
academic institutions, and other stakeholders to report suspected online falsehoods and
disinformation.

The platform shall allow for the submission of relevant content, sources, and context,
and shall include safeguards against abuse or misuse. All verified reports shall be reviewed in
a timely manner for possible issuance of enforcement orders under this Act.

SEC. 13. Public Education and Digital Literacy. — The DICT, in coordination with the
Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the CDDTO,
shall implement a nationwide public education programs to:

a. raise awareness on online disinformation and its consequences;
b. promote critical media consumption and fact-checking skills;

c. encourage responsible digital citizenship and ethics; and

d. integrate digital literacy into formal and informal education systems.

SEC. 14. Creation and Use of the Disinformation Control Fund. —There is hereby
created a Disinformation Control Fund, to be administered by the DICT, sourced from
administrative fines collected under this Act.

The Fund shall be used exclusively for the implementation of this Act, including but
not limited to:

a. Operational support for the Cyber Disinformation and Digital Truth Office
(CDDTO);

Monitoring and verification of online falsehoods and disinformation;

Public education and digital literacy programs;

. Capacity-building activities, including training of enforcement personnel; and
Development and maintenance of reporting and transparency platforms.

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Disbursement from the Fund shall be subject to existing government accounting,
auditing, and budgeting rules and regulations, and may require coordination and approval from
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as appropriate.

All administrative fines collected under this Act shall be deposited into the
Disinformation Control Fund and shall be exempt from reversion to the General Fund unless
otherwise repealed by subsequent legislation.

SEC. 15. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this.
‘Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DICT. Thereafter, such
sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In addition to the regular appropriations, the Disinformation Control Fund created under
shall serve as a supplemental source of funding for the operational and enforcement
s of the CDDTO.



SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DICT, in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the
Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), media
organizations, civil society groups, and other relevant stakeholders, shall jointly promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. —If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,