Makabayan Bloc Seek Probe Against “Troll Farms” for Allegedly Threat to Democracy
The Makabayan bloc seek probe against “troll farms” that are said to be a threat to democracy, especially if they are used to harass administration’s critics.
Six Makabayan legislators recently submitted House Resolution 1900, requesting that Congress evaluate the sources of funding for the operation of troll farms. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate reported this week that an incumbent undersecretary had begun construction on two troll farms in each province.
“We have to know whether public funds are being used in these operations and whether these are also the ones spearheading the massive red-tagging campaign against progressives, media, church people, lawyers, critics and the opposition,” according to Zarate.
“If public time and resources are involved, these are not just wasting taxpayers money but even criminal acts just to malign and harass anyone who criticizes the Duterte administration,” he explained.
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Troll farms, according to Zarate, operate in a similar way to what Facebook discovered in accounts tied to the Philippine Armed Forces (AFP) and others headquartered in China that engage in coordinated inauthentic activity (CIB).
“It would require millions, if not billions, of pesos to establish this kind of troll operation on a statewide scale and for at least a year,” he cautioned. Troll farms are “extremely hazardous to our democracy,” according to Zarate, because they can create “false clamor for a fake presidential candidate.”
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