DICT open to Meta talks on child protection, warns of legal action

The Philippine government is keeping the door open for further dialogue with Meta regarding child protection on social media platforms, though officials have signaled that litigation could be pursued if discussions fail to yield results. Secretary Henry Aguda of the Department of Information and Communications Technology expressed willingness to conduct additional negotiations with the tech giant to develop joint strategies for safeguarding minors online. Aguda delivered his remarks at a press briefing held at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Manila. The statement reflects the DICT's preference for collaborative approaches to addressing child safety concerns on Meta's platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. However, the official cautioned that continued inability to reach an agreement on protective measures could prompt the government to pursue legal remedies. The Philippines has increasingly focused regulatory attention on social media companies in recent years, particularly regarding issues affecting vulnerable populations such as children.