House summons Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg over child safety concerns in PH

The House of Representatives has summoned Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg to address mounting concerns over child safety across the company’s social media networks.

In a decisive move, lawmakers also deferred action on the proposed ₱19.49-billion 2027 budget for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and its attached agencies, pending progress on Meta’s online safety protocols.

The DICT highlighted key congressional concerns, specifically citing Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM). The department labeled these issues "grave threats" that demand immediate accountability and concrete action from tech platforms operating in the country.

Beyond sexual exploitation, the DICT warned that major online platforms continue to amplify other severe risks, including illegal online gambling, cyberbullying, social media addiction, and severe mental health struggles among young Filipinos.

According to the department, Meta "continues to fall short of its responsibility and commitment to youth safety," emphasizing that the tech giant's massive reach comes with an obligation to enforce stricter safeguards, swiftly remove harmful content, and actively collaborate with Philippine authorities.

“Accountability cannot be optional,” the DICT stated. “The safety and welfare of Filipino children must remain paramount. Technology companies operating in the Philippines must be held to the highest standards of responsibility. Persistent failure to address these risks erodes public trust and cannot be tolerated.”

-Paraluman News