Philippine lawmakers summon Mark Zuckerberg over social media safety

The Philippine House of Representatives has summoned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear before a congressional hearing regarding social media safety and the platform's role in protecting users. Lawmakers are focusing on the spread of harmful content, including cyberbullying, illegal gambling, and the exploitation of children.

Concerns have been heightened by incidents such as the Ateneo de Zamboanga University shooting, where violent posts reportedly remained online for an extended period. Lawmakers noted that despite the Philippines being Meta's fifth-largest user base, the company lacks a local office or country manager, which they argue demonstrates a lack of accountability.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is currently negotiating with Meta’s Singapore-based team to establish a memorandum of agreement aimed at improving protections for minors and accelerating content takedowns. As a measure of pressure, the House has postponed deliberations on the DICT’s proposed 2027 budget while these safety discussions continue. Officials indicated that blocking Facebook could serve as a last resort if Meta fails to implement necessary safeguards.