Photo credit: Congress PH

The House of Representatives of has approved on second reading a landmark measure seeking to penalize the deliberate spread of false information online, with violators facing up to 12 years in prison and fines reaching P2 million.

House Bill No. 9465, or the proposed Digital Media Anti-False Information Act, was among the priority LEDAC-backed measures approved during Tuesday’s marathon plenary session under Speaker Faustino Dy III and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.

Stronger penalties against intentional disinformation

Under the bill, individuals proven to have deliberately spread false information that causes verifiable public harm or poses a serious threat to national security may face 6 to 12 years in prison and fines ranging from P500,000 to P2 million.

Supporters said the measure is designed to target intentional deception, not ordinary mistakes or opinions shared online.

“Hindi dapat maging sandata ang fake news,” Marcos said, stressing that accountability must go hand in hand with freedom of expression. He added that the law is meant to punish deliberate lies, not silence criticism.

Protecting truth while safeguarding free speech

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Lordan Suan, sponsor of the bill, said the measure was crafted to balance two core democratic values—truth and freedom of expression—in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly online.

He emphasized that the proposal is not meant to suppress criticism of government or public officials, but to draw a clear line against coordinated and harmful deception.

Suan said the bill explicitly protects legitimate speech, including political opinions, satire, journalism, academic discourse, whistleblowing, and public commentary.

What the bill covers online

The measure targets deliberate and coordinated disinformation networks, including troll farms, bot accounts, fake profiles, and foreign-backed influence operations intended to manipulate public opinion or threaten national security.

It also covers synthetic or AI-generated content, such as manipulated images, videos, and audio, when used deceptively without proper disclosure and with intent to cause harm.

Impersonation of government agencies, law enforcement bodies, courts, media organizations, and real individuals for disinformation purposes is likewise prohibited.

The bill also makes clear that simply liking, sharing, or reposting content will not be punishable unless it can be proven that a person knowingly participated in the creation or spread of false information with malicious intent.

Accountability for digital platforms

The proposed law also places stronger obligations on digital platforms operating in the Philippines. These include requirements to establish a local presence, disclose paid content and political ads, submit transparency reports, and provide systems for user complaints and appeals.

Very large online platforms—defined as those reaching at least 10 percent of the population or meeting risk thresholds set by regulators—will face stricter rules, including risk assessments, independent audits, and stronger compliance monitoring.

Failure to comply may result in administrative penalties, including fines of up to 6 percent of annual gross revenue for major violations.

Part of wider reform push

The anti-fake news bill was one of five LEDAC priority measures approved on second reading during the same session, alongside bills on child protection, nutrition reform, transparency, and infrastructure development.

Lawmakers said the measure is part of a broader effort to strengthen governance in the digital age while ensuring that free speech remains protected but not abused for coordinated deception and public harm.