New bill seeks up to 12 years in prison, ₱2 million fine for ‘fake news’ peddlers

A new house bill seeks to crack down on disinformation.

On May 26, Representative Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro, 2nd District) filed House Bill No. 11506, the Anti-Fake News and Disinformation Act. The bill aims to punish people who create and spread false information, as well as the troll farms behind coordinated disinformation campaigns.

Penalties lead up to 12 years in prison and fines ranging from PHP 500,000 to PHP 2 million for anyone “knowingly and maliciously” spreading false information across broadcast, print, or online platforms.

Notably, the bill expands the definition of “fake news” to include false information or disinformation that causes harm, such as inciting violence, hate, or public disorder.

PPrevious bills addressing this issue either relied on the vague term “false fact” or defined fake news solely by the intent to deceive, without clearly distinguishing disinformation.

The bill bans:

• Posting or spreading false information on any platform (print, broadcast, social media).
• Operating or funding troll farms and bot networks.
• Sharing disinformation that incites violence, hate, or panic.
• Repeatedly using social media accounts or “systematic” use of social media platforms to push false content.

“When applicable, the offender may be prosecuted under both this Act and Article 154 [of the Revised Penal Code], provided that the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy is not violated,” the bill states.

Satire, opinion, honest mistakes, and good-faith reporting or research remain protected.

Meanwhile, the bill will set harsher penalties for offenses involving national security, elections, public health, public officials or influencers with large followings, troll farms, or foreign-funded disinformation.

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