Senate tackles fake news in 2nd hearing

THE SENATE is set to conduct a public hearing on the proliferation of fake and misleading news and false information on Tuesday, Dec. 12, focusing on the remedies for the “effect” of fake news, said Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and mass media.

“The hearing on fake news will mainly focus on remedies,” Ms. Poe said in a text message on Sunday, Dec. 10, adding, “In line with this, we will tackle three issues: the effect of fake news in shaping public opinion; the responsibility of bloggers and journalists in spreading misinformation; and the accountability of government for the use and misuse of resources in spreading disinformation.”

Ms. Poe also reiterated that she expects the hearing to focus on creating solutions to the issue.

“Since most of our resource persons are either media practitioners or from the academe, I look forward to an intelligent and meaningful discussion that will result in solutions rather than focus on conflict,” Ms. Poe said.

The hearing is based on the manifestation of Senators Vicente C. Sotto III, Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, Cynthia A. Villar, Richard J. Gordon, Francis Pancratius N. Pangilinan, Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Ana Theresia HontiverosBaraquel, and Juan Edgardo M. Angara on the article published on the Silent No More PH Facebook page titled, “Malacañang Dogs in the Senate.”