A proposal to update a nearly 50-year-old law requiring individuals to disclose their political activities in the interest of national security has gained steam amid allegations of the rise of “Filipino trolls” espousing pro-Beijing content.
Antonio Carpio, a retired Philippine Supreme Court senior associate justice, proposed that the country update its Foreign Agents Act, a 1979 law that requires individuals to register and disclose their political activities to regulate foreign agents.
Carpio’s call comes amid claims that state-funded, so-called internet trolls have surfaced to downplay the territorial row with Beijing in the South China Sea and discredit Philippine officials critical of Chinese activities.
He argued on a local radio show that the legal amendments were needed to counter such individuals who would otherwise abuse freedom of expression in the country, “so that everyone in the Philippines knows you’re paid to speak for China”.
Under the current law, individuals who fail to register may face up to five years in prison, penalties of up to 10,000 pesos (US$170), or both.
The retired justice said registration served transparency purposes and heavier penalties would deter individuals from espousing such narratives, which could be instrumental in shaping public opinion on the South China Sea dispute.
Philippine Coast Guard, China, Rodrigo Duterte, JV Ejercito, Paul Li, Jay Tarriela, Philippines, Beijing, United States, AidData, InfinitUs Solutions, Darwin Angeles, Filipino trolls, Foreign Agents Act, Antonio Carpio, Facebook, South China Sea, Chinese embassy, Rappler#Rise #Filipino #trolls #spurs #push #legal #fix #Chinese #influence #concerns1770180009
AidData
Antonio Carpio
Beijing
China
Chinese
Chinese embassy
concerns
Darwin Angeles
Facebook
Filipino
Filipino trolls
fix
Foreign Agents Act
InfinitUs Solutions
Influence
Jay Tarriela
JV Ejercito
legal
Paul Li
Philippine Coast Guard
Philippines
push
Rappler
rise
Rodrigo Duterte
South China Sea
spurs
trolls
United States
