A bill that would impose severe criminal penalties on those who create and spread “fake news” has been proposed by Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd. The bill is an understandable expression of public frustration over fake news, but in its present form does not contain adequate safeguards against abuse, and must be improved before being considered for passage.

Sotto’s Senate Bill (SB) 9 would prohibit the publication and spread of false content on social media, imposing penalties on violators that include imprisonment and fines ranging from P200,000 to P2 million.