ALARMED by the rising influence of troll farms and to safeguard the integrity of Philippine elections, two Davao-based lawmakers have filed a bill seeking to criminalize the operation of these troll farms.
PBA Partylist Representatives Margarita "Atty. Migs" Nograles and Davao Oriental Second District Representative Cheeno Miguel Almario introduced House Bill (HB) No. 11178, known as the "Anti-Troll Farm and Election Disinformation Act."
The bill aims to criminalize the operation of troll farms and the deliberate spread of false information to undermine political candidates.
In the explanatory note, the lawmakers emphasized that elections are the foundation of democracy, allowing citizens to choose leaders freely and fairly. They warned that the rise of troll farms and disinformation campaigns threatens public trust in the electoral process.
“Elections are the backbone of our democracy, allowing the people to choose their leaders freely and fairly. However, in recent years, the rise of troll farms and the spread of false information have become a serious threat to this process,” the bill’s explanatory note reads.
They said these organized groups intentionally create and spread lies about political candidates to harm reputations and mislead voters. While the bill acknowledges the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech, it asserts that restrictions are necessary when false information harms reputations or threatens national security.
HB 11178 defines troll farms as organized groups of at least two individuals, either physical or virtual, who systematically create and spread disinformation, hate speech, or propaganda to influence elections. The bill includes provisions that criminalize the operation of troll farms, penalize the creation and spread of false information to damage candidates or unfairly benefit opponents, and hold candidates accountable if they knowingly benefit from such actions.
If passed, the bill would empower law enforcement agencies and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to monitor and investigate disinformation activities, while requiring online platforms to take swift action to curb the spread of election-related disinformation.
Lawmakers stated that the bill aims to restore public trust in the electoral process by ensuring that decisions are based on facts, not falsehoods or propaganda.
“By making troll farms and election-related disinformation punishable by law, we are taking a stand for truth, fairness, and democracy,” the lawmakers said.
Trolls and disinformation have become increasingly prominent in the country's elections, as politicians and their supporters use social media to advance their campaigns. Experts have warned for years that internet trolls are stepping up efforts to spread misinformation, particularly as elections approach.
Analysts suggest that these disinformation efforts are not just the work of isolated individuals but are part of well-funded operations led by political strategists who enjoy significant protection from political elites.
Jonathan Ong, an associate professor of digital media at the University of Massachusetts, called it an “open secret” that these political strategists operate in boardrooms, managing corporate and political accounts with substantial backing from powerful political figures.
Local fact-checking site Vera Files reported that during the 2022 elections, disinformation campaigns targeting former presidential candidate Leni Robredo were heavily driven by trolls, including the spread of false statements attributed to her.
A December 2021 Social Weather Stations survey found that 69 percent of adult Filipinos view the problem of fake news in media as serious.
The Reuters Institute Digital News Report (DNR) from June 17, 2024, reveals that Filipinos are increasingly turning to video-centric platforms like TikTok for news, while reliance on traditional social media platforms like Facebook is declining. Unfortunately, this shift in news consumption has also made platforms more vulnerable to disinformation. RGL