The police are stepping up its cybercrime operations
Thought that the government wasn’t serious when it said that fake news peddlers would be arrested? Think again – the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group has announced that it has arrested 24 people suspected of spreading fake news in social media that has induced panic among people. Police Regional Offices and PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also arrested another 8 suspects for spreading false information.
According to the PNP-ACG, the 32 subjects are now facing charges for Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as Amended in relation to Sec 4c4 (Online Libel) and Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Anti-Cybercrime Law.
The National Bureau of Investigation has earlier sent out 17 subpoenas to individuals that it deems to be spreading misinformation during the COVID-19 crisis and while these people aren’t necessarily under arrest per se, they’ve been invited by the NBI to explain their side to the government.
Remember, creating and spreading fake news is a crime, even before the pandemic. Make sure you’re only getting true, verified news from major news outlets and through official government channels about the COVID-19 p
