It is undeniable that social media is a very powerful tool for information dissemination. This is why the Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants to regulate social media and penalize online trolls during campaign periods.

“We would like to readily admit that because of the absence of a law regulating social media in the Philippines that the Comelec is really powerless, at least to monitor what you have said,” Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said on ANC’s Rundown Monday morning.

“That’s the reason why in the next Congress, we will really push for a social media regulation at least as far as election expenditure and campaign is concerned,” he added.

In addition, Garcia said that Comelec will also urge Congress to pass a law against the use of trolls.

“It’s very difficult really to prove and prosecute and enforce [the Cyber Libel Prevention Act] but at the same time, we will push Congress to enact a law specifically for the campaign, specifically the use of trolls during the campaign period,” Garcia said.

“Easily, anybody who will be victimized by these trolls can file cases in relation to cyber libel but of course, it is very difficult to prove and at the same time it’s very difficult to pinpoint the liability of the individuals in this case,” Garcia added.

Cyber libel is defined as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead, and committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.