"As Duterte lashes out at Facebook
after blocking those supporting him"
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| Source: CNN Philippines |
It seems that the president is acting like a despotic landlord after ranting at the social media site for "coddling with the opposition".
For in his weekly public address last Monday, president Rodrigo Duterte strike at Facebook for taking down accounts that supported his policies, most of which deemed fake due to its inauthentic behaviour.
"I allow you to operate here," Duterte said. "You cannot bar or prevent me from espousing the objectives of government. Is there life after Facebook? I don't know. But we need to talk."
For as Facebook has removed 57 Facebook accounts, 31 Pages and 20 Instagram accounts for violating its policy relating to "coordinated inauthentic behavior" on behalf of a foreign or government entity. And most of the posts such as those synonymous with his programs to those of slander against the opposition as deemed fake and meant to misled people. In fact, according to that social media site, it justified shutting down false accounts, one based in China and another from the Philippines, all used to post information about a variety of subjects including those of Philippine politics. The Philippine-based network, however, had ties to both military and police, as it showed examples of posts slandering activist groups and the legal opposition as part of its antiinsurgency agenda if not to push through the candidacy of the presidential daughter Sara Duterte for the presidency.
But according to both Military and Police officials, that hey had no hand in accounts busted by Facebook for spreading disinformation. This comes despite multiple reports documenting police and military commands spreading fabricated information on their social media accounts over the same topics that Facebook mentioned. Some would even shared by officers, most of them as rabid supporters of the administration.
As for Duterte and the administration, it doesn't matter whether it is disinformation or not so long as it supports the government agenda. Instead, accusing Facebook of helping and encouraging communists to block his efforts. If not mistaken this isn't just about communists who really voiced their opposition against the system, some of these Duterte apologists did even slander ABS-CBN and other news outlets, or concerned individuals all for being critical against Duterte the way it slanders the legal left for its views. Worse, to see those who vent their angst against Duterte through their posts (like Laarni Villaluz with her meme, Joshua Molo with his reasonable post, or Ronnel Mas and his outright rage) end forced to apologise even in front of authorities.
Perhaps, wouldn't be surprised if he really meant shutting down just like how justifies use of Gasoline in his past statements:
"Even the advocacy of government was removed. So what’s the purpose of you being here? Facebook, listen to me: We allow you to operate here hoping that you could help us also. Now, if government cannot espouse or advocate something which is for the good of the people, then what is your purpose here in my country?"
So does it mean that disinformation is part of the government's advocacy? Not surprising if that's the case, his supporters had been known for making posts and supporting it no matter how fake/edited it would be if being checked. And despite his criticism towards Facebook, Duterte himself has also benefited from that said social media site with its popularity in the Philippines as its supporters either projected his cockish, strongman image to those of making slander against the opposition in its aggressive social media campaign that helped him win the 2016 presidential election; and still broadcasts his speeches and public appearances online to reach a wider audience either through its "presidential communications" or its so-called "Duterte''s Diehard Supporters".
And from the tone of Duterte's statement, no matter how spokesman Harry Roque would explain how his boss did not intend to shut down Facebook and describing takedowns as "censorship and suppression of right to expression" would say it is way far from it. Yes, he wanted to talk towards the management of that social media site- a way of making another example of submission towards "government policy" like what happened to ABS-CBN and other sites.
But come to think of this: since it is from Facebook where some of those who expressed their angst against Duterte end forced to take down just because being pressured by Duterte supporters/or by the authorities themselves (like those stated above), then it is not surprising that these same diehard supporters who either demand for "controlling use of social media" or in this present case, ditching their Facebook for VKontakte or MeWe.
And in speaking of the latter sites, the question is, will they survive VKontakte? Weibo? MeWe? Sorry to say but from these individuals, all due to their fanaticism, and even the ringleader himself, themselves became memes- and now they are triggered all because someone is taking down their posts, groups, and blaming Facebook's Zuckerberg along with opposition for all their woes.
Or is the president's lashing also a means to veer away from matters of importance such as this COVID19 pandemic?