Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

- Ofor ci: TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session JUL 29 P2:52 SENATE Senate Bill No. '768 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT PENALIZING THE GENERATION AND DISSEMINATION OF FAKE NEWS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10175 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012 EXPLANATORY NOTE According to UN News, the emergence of the so-called "fake news" has led to competing versions of information and truth, making it increasingly difficult for people around the world to discern what is real. The widespread use of social media has made it more difficult for the average person to differentiate between verified facts and misinformation.' While Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 addresses several forms of online offenses, it does not specifically penalize the generation and dissemination of fake news, particularly when done with malicious intent through computer systems, artificial intelligence, or other evolving technologies. The proposed measure seeks to amend RA 10175 by explicitly penalizing the generation and spread of fake news. It defines fake news as misinformation or disinformation in the form of stories or news that ' https://news.un.org/en/audio/2018/05/1008682, accessed last 22 July 2025.

are deliberately presented as factual content with the intent to mislead or deceive the audience. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN ' TULFO

„Off er oi! TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) P2:53 First Regular Session JUL 29 SENATE RECEND Senate Bill No. 768 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT PENALIZING THE GENERATION AND DISSEMINATION OF FAKE NEWS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10175 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise

2 known as the "Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012" is hereby amended 3 to read as follows: "xxx "(M) FAKE NEWS REFERS TO MISINFORMATION OR DISINFORMATION OF STORIES OR NEWS THAT IS DELIBERATELY PRESENTED AS FACTUAL CONTENT WITH THE INTENTION OF MANIPULATING, MISLEADING, OR DECEIVING ITS AUDIENCE."

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SEC. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise known

as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is hereby amended to read as follows: "xxx "(c) Content-related offenses: "XXX "(5) FAKE NEWS - THE GENERATION AND DISSEMINATION OF FAKE NEWS AS DEFINED IN

SECTION 3 HEREOF, COMMITTED THROUGH A

COMPUTER SYSTEM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR MEANS WHICH MAY BE DEVISED IN THE FUTURE."

SEC. 3. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise known

as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is hereby amended to include: "Section 8. Penalties. "xxX "Any person found guilty of any of the punishable acts enumerated in Section 4(c)(3) shall be punished with imprisonment of arresto mayor or a fine of at least Fifty thousand pesos (PhP50,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (PhP250,000.00) or both." "ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF THE PUNISHABLE ACT UNDER SECTION 4(C)(5) SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH IMPRISONMENT OF PRISION MAYOR OR A FINE OF AT LEAST FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP50,000.00) BUT NOT EXCEEDING TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP250,000.00) OR BOTH."

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of

2 this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions 3 and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,

7 proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

12 after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,