Philippine lawmakers want Mark Zuckerberg to appear before Congress to answer questions on Facebook’s role in violence and child safety. The House held back approval of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s 2027 budget to pressure Meta into sending its CEO.
The move came after incidents like the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting, where violent posts stayed online too long. Lawmakers said Meta has no local office or country manager even though the Philippines is its fifth largest user base. They argued this shows a lack of accountability to Filipino users.
DICT confirmed talks with Meta’s Singapore team. Officials said they are working on a memorandum of agreement to improve protections for minors and speed up content takedowns. They also admitted blocking Facebook could be a last resort if Meta fails to act.
Lawmakers stressed that social media platforms must protect children and stop harmful content. The DICT agreed, saying Meta continues to fall short of its duty to protect young users.
At the same time, Congress is reviewing the ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027. Priorities include food and energy security, infrastructure, climate resilience, education, healthcare, jobs, and social services. Other agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment have already secured their budgets, while debates will run until September 25.
Also Read: Meta commits to faster takedowns, data sharing in PH
For now, the spotlight is on Meta. Lawmakers want Zuckerberg to explain how the company will handle violence, misinformation, and child safety in one of its biggest markets. The outcome could change how Facebook operates in the Philippines.
