Meta Platform Inc., Blocks Hundreds Of Facebook Accounts, Pages And Groups Related To The Presidential Election In The Philippines

Meta Platforms Inc., has suspended a network of more than 400 accounts, pages and groups ahead of the general election in the Philippines. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - Meta Platforms Inc., on Wednesday, April 6, has suspended a network of more than 400 accounts, pages and groups ahead of the general election in the Philippines.

This had to be done when the parent company of Facebook moved to crack down on hate speech and misinformation.

Concerns about online hate speech have increased as candidates and supporters increasingly turn to social media for the May 9 election against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic disrupting traditional campaign methods.

Last month, the country's presidential candidates had urged the need to hold social media companies accountable for spreading misinformation.

Meta said in a blog post last Wednesday that advertisers in the Philippines must complete their ad authorization process and include a 'Paid by' disclaimer on ads about elections, politics and certain categories of social issues.

Meta's move comes after last month changing its stance on Ukraine temporarily allowing calls for violence and narrowing its content moderation policy to ban calls for the death of a head of state.