DICT supports House move to defer budget over Meta

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has accepted the House of Representatives’ decision to defer its budget as lawmakers press for answers over long-standing concerns involving Meta.

In a statement Thursday, the DICT said it respected the House leadership’s position and supported its advocacy on online child protection.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda submitted to the House’s exercise of its oversight powers, the agency said.

The DICT particularly pointed to concerns involving online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) and child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), which it described as grave threats requiring decisive action and accountability.

“Unlike other technology platforms that have demonstrated meaningful cooperation with authorities and concrete progress in safeguarding users, Meta continues to fall short of its responsibility and commitment to youth safety,” the agency said.

The DICT also cited other persistent problems on major online platforms, including illegal online gambling, cyberbullying, social media addiction, depression and related mental health risks affecting Filipino children and young adults.

It said Meta’s vast reach comes with a corresponding responsibility to implement effective and measurable safeguards, promptly remove harmful content, and cooperate fully and transparently with Philippine authorities.

“Accountability cannot be optional,” the agency said, stressing that the safety and welfare of Filipino children must remain paramount.

The DICT added that technology companies operating in the Philippines should meet high standards of responsibility, warning that continued failure to address online risks could erode public trust.

“The DICT remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting Filipino children online and will continue working closely with Congress, law enforcement agencies, child protection advocates, and responsible technology partners to strengthen child online protection measures,” it said.

“The protection of children is non-negotiable. All stakeholders, especially the largest platforms, must be held fully accountable,” the agency added.