DICT to Meta: Sign safety deal, open Manila office

Meta (Facebook) is coming under heavier regulatory pressure in the Philippines as the government pushes the social media giant to sign a safety deal, establish a local subsidiary, and potentially secure a congressional franchise to continue operating in the country.

Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said Monday that Facebook has yet to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering safety measures already discussed with the government in Singapore.

“We already agreed on the safety features that Facebook needs to implement, and these are included in an MoU. Facebook just needs to sign it,” Aguda said.

Facebook has yet to indicate when it will sign the agreement, according to Aguda, who said the government is waiting for the company to act.

The proposed MoU also includes the establishment of a local Facebook subsidiary, giving the platform a corporate presence as regulators push for greater accountability.

The government is also weighing a potentially broader requirement of making Facebook and other online platforms secure congressional franchises similar to traditional broadcasters.